MEAN FORM OF THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

MEAN FORM OF THEFT.

VICTIMS WHO ARE HELPLESS.

" Robbing a blind beggar" has hitherto been considered the meanest form of crime. A gang of London thieves, mostlycomposed of women, have, however, thought of a n even meaner way to rob the old and infirm. The method is to choose a quiet suburb and there select an aged woman, tho moro infirm the better. They follow her until Ihey see that she wishes to cross the road. The aged woman usually stands, hesitating, on the pavement,too nervous to cross nlone, and then tho thief approaches, with an offer to escort her safelv to the other side. The offer is seldom refused, and while the victim is being piloted across the street she is systematically robbed of her valuables by the deft hands of the thief. A reader of the Daily Express, whose grandmother was robbed in this fashion, says:— "On Saturday my grandmother, who is 76, and whose sight is extremely poor, wanted to cross the road at Tooting Broadway. She was hesitating on the. kerb, when a young woman asked: 'Do you want to cross the road ? Let; me help you: take my arm.' My grandmother gratefully took her arm, and when nearly across the road she found that, this wretch was trying to take lier lings, which were much worn, from her poor old left. hand. The shock proved too much for my grandmother. She ,s no ™ lying next to death's door, and is c -" pected to recover from » heart attack.