Concerns have arisen today over the possible resurgence of a notorious group of female thieves, known for stealing valuable watches from elderly men, who might have found a new area to target.
Last Monday, a man in his seventies was approached while walking on Richmond Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. A woman offered him services for cleaning and gardening.
According to Thames Valley Police, she then escalated her approach by suggesting sexual services and inappropriately touching him over his clothes before snatching his Rolex watch and making a quick escape.
This incident bears striking resemblances to a series of thefts by an all-women gang in southern England back in 2021, with only one perpetrator ever apprehended.
Nicknamed The Rolex Rippers, the group was suspected of being involved in no fewer than 15 incidents, usually working in pairs.
Their strategy often involved distraction techniques, such as posing as charity workers or conducting fake surveys, to engage their targets. They would then distract the men with physical contact, allowing them to discreetly remove the expensive watches.
Romanian national Stefania Tinica was the only member of the group, described by police as being made up of eastern European women, ever caught.
She was snared by police at Luton airport as she tried to flee the country and jailed for 40 months over her role in a successful theft in Poole, Dorset in May 2021 and a failed robbery four months prior in Cheshire.
Romanian national Stefania Tinica, then 40, was the only member of the group ever caught – she was jailed for 40 months in 2022 for her role in one theft and another attempted theft
A man in his 70s was walking along Richmond Road (pictrued) in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire last Monday when his Rolex was stolen by a lone woman
The gang are thought to have carried out Rolex raids in Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, Surrey and Gloucestershire, as well as the one in Cheshire. Most of the cases involved older men being targeted.
Last week’s incident in Aylesbury would mark a new development, if the thefts are able to be definitively linked.
The victim, a man in his 70s, was walking on Richmond Road in Aylesbury at just after 12.45pm when he was approached by a woman.
She was described as being in her 20s or 30s with long dark hair, and with a possibly Spanish accent.
She was wearing a black baseball cap and light coloured clothing and was approximately 5ft tall. Thames Valley Police has launched an urgent manhunt to try and locate her.
The thief is said to have initially offered gardening services before switching to sexual offers.
It is alleged she then sexually assaulted the man, possibly kissing him, and stole his watch.
The tactic is not dissimilar to previous thefts, including that of a Rolex belonging to pernsioner Derek Freestone in Kent in July 2021.
Two women approached him as he sat in his car and asked him to sign a petition relating to a local school for deaf children.
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Alan Bruce was robbed of his timepiece (pictured) in July 2021, and is believed to have been targeted by the Rolex Ripper gang
One of the suspected members of the gang, who has not been caught, is pictured at West Surrey Golf Club in Surrey in 2021
After he agreed, one of them through their arms around him and tried to kiss him, as the other shook his hand.
Mr Freestone pushed the women away and closed his car door, but his watch was already gone.
A second incident barely a week later saw Alan Bruce robbed of his timepiece by two women in their 20s or 30s.
They also approached him with a clipboard and claims of supporting a centre for deaf people, before one of the women complimented his aftershave and asked for a cuddle.
Although he withdrew, they still managed to snatch his £14,000 Yacht-Master Rolex watch off his wrist.
If the latest theft were to be linked to the all-female gang – police have not so far publicly done so – It would not be the first time they have resurfaced after taking time off.
In 2022, the criminals were thought to be involved in another attempted robbery in Christchurch, Dorset, emerging after a nine-month hiatus.
Two women approached a man on July 29 outside a veterinary centre and asked him to fill out a survey.
One then shook his hand while the other attempted to hug him, but fortunately their would-be victim managed to fend them off and report the incident to police.
At the time, police said the crime was a ‘similar method’ to ‘incidents we have seen in the past’.
Detective Constable Mandy Cutler, Investigating Officer for the Aylesbury theft, said: ‘This incident has occurred in the early afternoon, and I am appealing to anybody who witnessed this to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police.
‘You can do so by reporting online or by calling us on 101, quoting reference 43260169849.
‘We also have a dedicated digital portal available where witnesses can upload any relevant digital evidence, such as dash-cam or doorbell and CCTV images or footage.
‘If you don’t wish to speak directly with the police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
