Charity Worker Impersonator Jailed for Robbing 78-Year-Old in Home Snatch
A callous thief who posed as a charity worker to rob a 78-year-old woman has been locked up for nearly three years. Daniela Niculai, 31, followed her victim home from Tesco in Orpington before snatching a gold necklace.
The Horrific Snatch
The incident unfolded around 1pm on April 2. The elderly victim parked her car in a disabled bay outside a supermarket when Niculai approached, pretending to collect signatures for charity. The victim, tricked by the fake form, unwittingly gave her name and home postcode.
But it didn’t end there. Niculai followed the woman to her house in Swanley. Offering to help with her shopping, she ignored pleas to be left alone. Then, in a chilling move, she hugged the woman, placing her hands around her neck before fleeing. Moments later, the victim discovered her precious gold necklace had vanished.
Caught on Camera and Sent Down
Fortunately, CCTV caught Niculai lurking outside the victim’s home. Police arrested her at her north London flat and charged her with robbery.
During court, it emerged Niculai had pulled similar scams on elderly victims in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. On Monday, September 23, she was sentenced to two years and eight months behind bars for the ‘cowardly’ crime.
Police Praise Swift Justice
“It is extremely rare for elderly victims to be so callously targeted. The impact is devastating, causing long-lasting fear and anxiety,” said Detective Constable Nell Shortis of Kent Police.
“There’s little doubt Niculai would have struck again if not caught. I’m grateful our officers tracked her down quickly.”
Detective Shortis hopes the victims can now find peace, safe in the knowledge the predatory thief can no longer harm them or others.
