Callous thief targeted vulnerable pensioners

A predatory thief has been jailed after following a pensioner from a supermarket before robbing her outside her Swanley home.

Daniela Niculai snatched a necklace from her victim as she was unloading shopping from her car. 

Niculai initially approached the 78-year-old at around 1pm on 2 April 2024, as the victim was parked in a disabled bay outside a Tesco in Orpington.

She was tricked by Niculai into signing a form of a bogus charity, which included providing her name and home postcode.

Victim followed home

When the victim arrived home and began to unload her shopping, Niculai suddenly reappeared and offered to help with the shopping.

Ignoring shouts to be left alone, she then told the victim she needed to be hugged, before placing her hands around the back of her neck.

Niculai then walked backed to a car and drove from the scene, and the victim then noticed a gold necklace she had been wearing was missing.

Further offences

Officers quickly identified CCTV images which showed Niculai’s car, and just hours later she was arrested at her home address in Nightingale Road, Edmonton, north London.

The 31-year-old was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

Two further offences were taken into consideration by the court. These also involved thefts from elderly victims and happened outside supermarkets in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.  

On 23 September, Niculai was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment. 

Detective Constable Nell Shortis said:

`It is extremely rare for elderly victims to be so callously targeted in this manner, however when it does happen the impact can be truly devastating and often causes long-lasting fear and anxiety. 'There can be little doubt that Niculai would have repeated her cowardly actions by targeting and stealing from other vulnerable people within our communities, and I’m thankful that our officers were able to track her down so quickly. 'I hope those affected by Niculai’s crimes will be able to take some reassurance, now she is behind bars and unable to cause further harm.’