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Elderly Soft Targets for Cowardly Criminals
By Tanya Chilcott-Moore, Brisbane Courier Mail
Australia
June 9, 2005
Losing faith in humanity . . . Jess Kurth with the handbag that was recovered
after a thief snatched it from her as she was looking for a grocery item.
Picture: John Wilson.
Callous and cowardly thieves are continuing to target elderly women in shopping centres.
In one of the latest attacks, a great-grandmother was the victim of a female thief who apparently used a suburban supermarket south of Brisbane as a hunting ground.
Jess Kurth, 82, was shopping near the front of Logan Central Plaza's Coles Supermarket about 1.40pm on Tuesday when a woman sneaked up on her and snatched her handbag.
It is not the first time an elderly woman has been targeted by a female thief in a suburban shopping centre.
There was a string of similar bag snatches on Brisbane's northside early last year.
In those cases, many of the women were aged from 72 to 92.
Police yesterday said Tuesday's attack was the first similar theft they had investigated in the Logan area.
The female thief chose her target and struck as the elderly shopper was concentrating on finding a grocery item.
The thief ran out of the shop with her head lowered.
Mrs Kurth said the theft happened so quickly that no one was able to stop the thief.
"All I saw was a hand that came across the front of me, grab the handbag and run," Mrs Kurth said. "She went underneath the checkout. Gee, she was quick.
"It was like a flash, that is the only way I can describe it.
"She just went straight out and disappeared and all I know was that she had dark hair, a bit straggly, and was wearing a yellow top, and it was all over."
Mrs Kurth said yesterday money could be replaced, but other things couldn't.
"I have been really upset about it because we were brought up to believe that you looked after older people, not robbed them, but times have changed," Mrs Kurth said.
"It was planned. It is upsetting. I feel as if I've been belted and nobody touched me."
The former part-time TAFE teacher said her faith in humanity was given a boost by Coles staff who presented her with groceries and a female police officer who was particularly kind to her.
Her handbag was found dumped near a local chemist shop early yesterday.
Detective Senior-Sergeant Garry Watts said there were witnesses to the attack but unfortunately there was no security footage.
He said the female offender was described as Caucasian, between 25 and 30, about 175cm, of slim build with dark brown, shoulder-length hair.
She was wearing a yellow shirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information on the theft is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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