Two Romanians have been arrested over 18 alleged “bonnet scams” at 15 shopping centres across New South Wales where elderly female drivers were allegedly targeted in carparks.
Mihai-Danut Ciuca, 37, and Gheorghe Toma, 57, were arrested at a service station on Wednesday, but investigators with Strike Force Pitstop, set up to investigate the alleged scams, are searching for two more men.
Police allege the two men worked together to steal from multiple elderly victims between January 3 and January 7 in Albion Park, Ashfield, Beecroft, Berowra Heights, Double Bay, Forster, Goulburn, Newcastle, Pennant Hills, Penrith, Shellharbour, The Ponds, Tumut, Unanderra, and Wagga Wagga.
During a “bonnet scam” one of the men allegedly approached the victims claiming there is an issue with their vehicle before asking them to raise the bonnet to inspect, and while the bonnet is up the other man allegedly steals wallets, purses, cash and cards from inside, police said.
Police allegedly seized seized vehicle wires, international passports, mobile phones, a Toughbook laptop, $6,000 in cash and a number of receipts for money transfers during searches of the men and their vehicle.
Both were charged with 72 offences each, relating to alleged fraud, theft, and enter vehicle without consent, and faced Sydney Bail Court where they did not apply for bail, and were remanded in custody to appear in Parramatta Local Court on January 13, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Police released CCTV images of the other two men they wished to speak with, describing them both as in their 40s and of Caucasian appearance.
The first man is depicted wearing a white with black checkered long sleeve shirt, black shorts, sunglasses, and a black hat with a white graphic on front, and the second is depicted wearing a white sleeve shirt, black shorts, black shoes with white bottoms, a blue face mask, a black hat with a white graphic on front.
Header image: Left, right, the two men after their arrests (NSW Police).
