Man snatches necklace from woman’s neck in Brunswick supermarket

A man who ripped an 18-karat gold necklace from a grandmother’s neck inside a Brunswick Woolworths has been described as a coward by the victim’s family.

The man police believe can assist with their enquiries after he stole a necklace from a Brunswick woman’s neck.

A man who allegedly ripped an 18-karat gold necklace from a grandmother’s neck inside a Brunswick supermarket asked her how her day was before committing the “callous” crime.

Police are searching for the man who approached the 85-year-old woman in Woolworths at Barkly Square on Sydney Road about 10:30am on Saturday, January 30.

First Constable Shehan De Mel said the man followed the grandmother-of-three around the store and then stopped to chat with her at the deli section.

He asked her how her day was before ripping the gold chain – worth about $2000 – from her neck and ran from the store towards Sydney Rd.

“This crime is quite callous in nature,” Constable De Mel said.

“This male has targeted a vulnerable member of this community and that’s why we’re really wanting members of the community to help us identify this man.”

The victim’s daughter – who identified herself only as Maria – said her mother was “hysterical and in shock” after the assault.

“Whenever she closes her eyes she keeps feeling this man’s hands on her,” she said.

“She feels violated, unsafe and is always looking behind her shoulder in a place she normally felt safe.”

Maria said her mother loved to go shopping and looked forward to it every week, but was now “too weary” to go back to the scene.

“She feels sad that someone tried to garner her trust and then violated it,” she said.

“She enjoys that part of her week where she goes out shopping, loves to cook and see friends, so it was totally unexpected what happened.”

Maria described her mother’s attacker as a “coward” and urged him to hand the necklace in to his local police station.

“It was a very cowardly act preying on a defenceless, vulnerable woman and he should be ashamed of himself,” she said.

“If he wants to redeem himself please don’t do this to anyone else because it has a lot of ramifications … please think of other people and the pain you've caused.”

The victim was not injured in the incident.

The man allegedly responsible for the assault is perceived to be caucasian in appearance, about 182cm tall, and was wearing a red hat, white Nike Air T-shirt, a black wind breaker, light grey shorts and white Asics shoes.

He is aged between 30-40 years.

Anyone who identifies the man or with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.