Thieves who preyed on elderly women stealing thousands are jailed
Two thieves who targeted the elderly and vulnerable and stole thousands of pounds from their victims, including one from Shropshire, have been jailed for three years.
Djani Jovanovic and Jasmina Muslimovic had previously been convicted at Telford Magistrates Court of three charges of theft and two charges of fraud between March and June of this year.
The pair had committed their crimes in Shropshire, Essex and Lincolnshire and had preyed on pensioners.
Judge Michael Challinor sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, heard that they had committed their first offence on March 23 in Harlow, Essex.
The duo had spotted an elderly lady withdraw £2,400 from her bank to give to her recently widowed daughter.
As the 79-year-old was leaving the bank, the pair bumped into her and took the money from her handbag.
Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting said: "She realised the money had gone and went back to the bank to see if it was there. CCTV at the bank was studied and the defendants were caught on camera."
The next offence took place in Spalding, Lincolnshire on May 25 when an 83-year-old lady was shopping. Muslimovic, 31, was seen on CCTV to crouch down and take a wallet from her handbag.
They then removed £1,200 from her account. Muslimovic and Jovanovic, 31, were arrested and interviewed.
The third offence happened on June 11 in Newport.
A 68-year-old woman had been in the town's branch of Waitrose and had used her bank card to pay for some shopping.
"The defendants watched her enter her pin number," said Miss Powis. "They then stole the card and immediately began to use it. They withdrew £500 from her account and also used it to buy computing equipment worth £50."
The pair of Summerton Road, Sandwell, were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for each of the thefts, to run consecutively.
Judge Challinor said: "These offences involved thefts of money from elderly ladies. They were distressed by what you did."
