VIC: 'Hot chocolate thief' targetting cashed-up women

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2008
VIC: 'Hot chocolate thief' targetting cashed-up women

MELBOURNE, Dec 8 AAP - A woman who spills hot chocolate on cashed-up bank customers
and then robs them while pretending to help has made off with at least $24,000.

Melbourne's "hot chocolate thief" has struck at least three times and targets women.

Last month she stole $20,000 one victim had just withdrawn from the bank.

Police said the robberies were very well planned, and there was video footage of the
woman working with at least one man.

"The thefts themselves are well organised, it's well planned. They are conducting surveillance
we believe," Leading Senior Constable Richard Borradale told reporters on Monday.

"She follows them from a banking area, and when the moment is right, she will throw
a large amount of hot chocolate on the victim from behind all over the victim's hair and
back.

"While the victim is trying to clean herself down, the suspect will help her, basically
distracting her from what's going on.

"At that same time she will help herself to the money that's been carried in her purse
or bag and remove that, without the victim even being aware of it."

Snr Const Borradale described the thefts as European-style "distraction thefts".

One woman lost $20,000 she had just withdrawn from the Commonwealth Bank on the corner
of Collins and Queen streets on November 12.

A second victim lost $4,000 she had withdrawn from the ANZ Bank on the corner of Swanston
and Little Bourke streets on November 10.

A third woman, who had withdrawn $9,000 from the same ANZ Bank on the same day, was luckier.

She was followed by the thief who began to play out her elaborate ruse. But the victim
became suspicious and the thief left empty handed.

Police said the thief had been seen wearing a grey suit, white shirt and sunglasses
on her head. She is described as aged in her 40s with red and brown shoulder-length hair
and speaks with a European accent.

AAP gr/gfr/tnf/mn

KEYWORD: CHOCOLATE WRAP (SUBMITTED PIX AVAILABLE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.