Offender targets women for cash

ACT Policing is investigating three incidents where an offender has targeted middle-aged and older women as they withdraw money from Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).

The first incident occurred on Sunday (July 1) at the Kippax Shops around 2pm where a male approached a 53-year-old female and snatched a sum of cash from her grasp and placed it in his mouth.

The second incident occurred on Monday (July 2) in Mawson around 5.12pm when an 83-year-old victim was in the process of withdrawing a sum of cash from the machine, when the offender snatched the money from her grasp before running to a nearby vehicle.

The third incident occurred yesterday (June 3) around 2.40pm at the Commonwealth Bank ATM in Bougainville Street, Griffith.  The victim, a 79-year-old woman from Red Hill was pushed out of the way as the offender grabbed a sum of money from the ATM.  The woman’s son attempted to restrain the offender but was thrown to the ground receiving minor bruising.  The offender escaped with the cash.

The offender in each incident was described as male; Caucasian; aged in his late 20s to early 30s; 5'8" -5'10" (173-178cms) in height; slim to medium build with blue/green eyes and; having short light brown hair (on two occasions covered with a beanie).

It is suspected that the same offender is responsible for all these incidents as the offender has left the scene in the same white Toyota Corolla, bearing NSW registration plate of ZCZ 881 on the front of the vehicle.

Police wish to warn people to be cautious when making withdrawals at ATMs and to ensure all suspicious activity around ATMs is reported to police.

Police would urge anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or know the whereabouts of this vehicle or offender to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.