NSW: Three charged over wet back theft scam
24 Nov 2008 11:56 AMSYDNEY, Nov 24 AAP - A trio of thieves who doused selected bank customers with liquid before stealing their cash scammed a total of50,000 in two months, NSW police allege.
Three people, believed to be Chilean nationals, have been charged over the alleged scam in which people who had just made large cash withdrawals from banks in Sydney and Wollongong were targeted.
After squirting liquid on their backs, police allege the robbers then offered to help their victims in order to fleece them of the money.
In total, about50,000 was stolen by the group in five separate incidents over the past two months, police said.
Two men, aged 37 and 41, and a 39-year-old woman were arrested on Friday morning on Anzac Parade at Kingsford, in Sydney's east.
They have been charged with a total of 21 offences, including multiple counts each of stealing from a person, plus charges of common assault and one count of stolen goods in custody.
They were refused bail in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, and the woman is due to reappear at Central Local Court on Monday.
The men will be back in court on Wednesday.
