"Two men who were part of a foreign gang which stole 64,000 from older people withdrawing cash have been jailed for three years and eight months each. Colombian nationals Willmer Guzman, 63, and Armet Cortes, 55, and their associates would hang around cash machines and banks across England before carefully selecting victims, targeting lone women who were "unlikely to fight back", Newcastle Crown Court heard."
"One woman had 15,000 stolen when the gang scattered coins on the ground and asked if they were hers, court documents showed. They used the same tactic with many of the victims, with thefts carried out in Southport, Widnes, Formby, Scarborough, Ealing in London, Preston and Birkenhead. Staff at a Home Bargains in Birkenhead managed to retrieve one woman's 4,000 after they chased down the gang of thieves, prosecution notes said."
"Judge Smith said the gang loitered looking for people "discreetly taking out large amounts of cash", then used "silent, skilled and subtle signs" to gesture to each other about the victim they had identified. They predominantly sought older single women "unlikely to fight back or challenge" them, the judge said, and on occasion followed people home and entered their houses to get their money. The men would use "skilful and practised distraction techniques" to steal the money which showed a "high degree of professionalism"."
Two Colombian nationals were jailed for three years and eight months each after admitting conspiracy to steal a total of 64,000 from older people withdrawing cash. The gang targeted 14 victims between August 2024 and April, operating at cash machines and banks across England with six offences in the north-east and others in towns including Southport, Widnes, Formby, Scarborough, Ealing, Preston and Birkenhead. Members selected lone older women, used discreet gestures to mark victims, scattered coins as distractions, and sometimes followed victims home or used intimidation and force. Store staff in Birkenhead recovered 4,000 for one victim after pursuing the thieves.
Read at www.bbc.com
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