Girls arrested after allegedly assaulting 69yo woman, stealing phone, trying to blackmailing victim’s family for money

Two teen girls have been arrested after allegedly stealing a woman’s phone during a late-night assault and using it to try to blackmail her family for cash.

Two 13-year-old girls have been arrested after allegedly assaulting a southern suburbs woman, stealing her phone and using it to attempt to blackmail her family members.

The teenagers, from Morphett Vale and Hackham West, are accused of approaching a 69-year-old woman about 9pm on Tuesday night and pushing her to the ground when she refused to hand over her phone.

They have been charged with aggravated robbery and attempted blackmail, and were refused police bail.

“A woman was walking along Woolridge Street, Morphett Vale, when she was approached by two girls who demanded her mobile phone,” a police spokeswoman said. “The suspects ran off after stealing the woman’s phone.

“Police will allege that after stealing the phone, the pair made phone calls to a relative of the victim demanding money or else the victim would be further harmed.”

The alleged victim sustained facial injuries and was treated at the scene by ambulance officers.

Police officers attended and located one of the girls still in the area, while the second teen was arrested at her Morphett Vale property where the victim’s phone was also recovered.

The two teens will both appear in court on Wednesday.

Originally published as Girls arrested after allegedly assaulting 69yo woman, stealing phone, trying to blackmailing victim’s family for money