The problem that Constable Gray describes is [br] [originaltext] CONSTABLE G

CONSTABLE GRAY:
    Before I start, I’d like to thank the University of Technology International Centre for allowing me to come and talk to you all this afternoon. The reason for my visit is to outline a problem that female international visitors and students have been having in the Darlinghurst area.
    For the last month or so, thieves have been targeting the area snatching handbags and backpacks from unsuspecting women. As you probably know, Darlinghurst is very popular with tourists for shopping and sightseeing and it’s also a popular meeting place for students. There are lots of cafes and coffee shops and unfortunately, we’ve had some thieves taking advantage of these conditions. The thieves are young and fit-they grab the bag from the woman’s shoulder or out of her hand when she’s involved with something else-you know, deep in conversation or window- shopping-so they grab the bag and then run away very quickly. By the time the victim realizes what’s happened, the young man’s out of sight and there’s little hope of catching him. The victims are always female and almost always, a visitor to the area. When these incidents first started, the victims were always by themselves but now it seems they’re becoming braver and targeting women in groups. Age doesn’t seem to matter to the thieves-it’s just a matter of opportunity. They look for someone who isn’t consciously protecting their bag and for a place with an easy getaway-you know, not too crowded.
    We’ve only had two of these bag-snatchers almost caught when the victims chased after them. Unfortunately, on both occasions, as soon as the women reached the thief, he threw the bag right at them and then escaped. One woman was hurt quite badly. They really are brazen. We don’t encourage you to chase these thieves-there are many small laneways and streets in Darlinghurst that the thieves can escape into. We just don’t know what they’re likely to do and we certainly don’t want anyone to get hurt.
    So, what can you do? Well, unfortunately, not much but we are asking that you be aware of this danger. If possible, walk with a friend while you’re in the area-hang onto your bags carefully- don’t leave your bags on the ground at one of the many cafes while you have a coffee or a meal and don’t leave it on a chair or tabletop-in other words, be alert at all times and conscious of your bag while you’re in the area.
    We’d also caution you about carrying anything too valuable in your bags. Don’t, for instance, carry too much cash and please ensure that you know the details of all of your credit cards. It seems like the thieves are not only after cash. They’ve been using credit cards illegally on the Internet to purchase goods or access pornographic sites. So some of our targets not only lose the cash they have in their bags but they get a nasty surprise when their credit card bills arrive at the end of the month. It’s vital that you keep your credit card details and report your loss to police.