Woman charged after allegedly stealing at least $25,000 from elderly and vulnerable victims in Albany

Police have charged a 23-year-old woman in relation to a number of incidents where at least $25,000 was allegedly stolen from elderly and vulnerable victims.

On Tuesday, Albany police issued a plea to the community about a woman who is known to beg for money around shopping centres and target people as they are withdrawing cash from ATMs.

In a statement today, police announced they had arrested and charged the woman in question.

She is set to face Albany Magistrates Court next week on a string of stealing and fraud offences.

The Spencer Park woman has been charged with 11 counts of fraud and seven counts of stealing.

It will be alleged she targeted elderly and vulnerable victims between September 2020 and May 2021, making ATM withdrawals against the victims’ wishes and accessing internet banking to make large cash transfers.

Police say she also befriended victims and removed property from their homes.

To date, at least $25,000 has allegedly been stolen from the victims.

The woman is due to appear in the Albany Magistrates Court next Thursday, June 3.