Woman jailed 5 years for robbing elderly

SINGAPORE: A 44—year—old woman who stole gold chains from elderly women was jailed five years by a district court on Friday.

Annabell Joan Garnell committed the crimes in October. Her victims were four women aged between 77 and 91 years old.

The prosecution proceeded on two charges and took the other two into consideration.

The crimes took place in Ang Mo Kio.

The court heard in one of the cases, Garnell snatched a gold chain from the back of 77—year—old Madam Palanyayee’s neck, as the elderly woman was entering her flat.

Just before she committed the crime, Garnell had struck up a conversation with Madam Palanyayee.

She had asked where the elderly woman was staying and Madam Palanyayee revealed her block number and the level her unit was located.

After stealing the chain, which was valued at about S$1,300, Garnell pawned it for S$280.

In another case, which took place only three days later, Garnell targeted her neighbour — 91—year—old Goh Ah Huay.

Madam Goh was walking along the corridor to her unit, when Garnell snatched the gold chain which Madam Goh was wearing from behind.

She then fled and similarly, pawned the chain — this time for S$530.

Garnell, who is married, was unrepresented in court, and pleaded for a light sentence.

But District Judge Low Wee Ping said Garnell’s crimes were violent and had been inflicted on older victims.

Garnell also has a long criminal record for crimes such as theft, housebreaking, and robbery, which date back to when she was 13 years old — a record the judge described as "shocking".

Garnell could have been jailed up to seven years.

— CNA/xq