A North London woman who stole £6,000 from a pensioner in Uxbridge has been jailed for nine weeks.

Tinka Dinkova, 22, of Empire Avenue in Edmonton, was sentenced at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of theft. She will serve at least a month behind bars for her crime and has been ordered to pay £154 in costs.

The Crime

On June 10, 2024, Dinkova, along with an accomplice, followed elderly victim Emelia Okpoti around Uxbridge Town Centre for approximately 30 minutes. After spotting the pensioner withdraw a large sum of cash from a bank, they continued to shadow her through multiple stores.

Seizing an opportunity, Dinkova managed to take the money from Okpoti’s bag without her realizing. The theft was only discovered later when the victim noticed her cash was missing.

Police Investigation

Metropolitan Police tracked down Dinkova after reviewing CCTV footage and gathering witness statements. A spokesperson for the Met said:
“This was a targeted theft by a pair who were in town purely to steal. They followed the victim around multiple stores for nearly 30 minutes prior to actually taking the money.”

Safety Reminder

Following the sentencing, police have issued advice to the public, especially the elderly, about handling large sums of cash.
“We want to remind the public that should you need to withdraw a large amount of money, please do go straight home after doing so and do not continue shopping,” the spokesperson added.

Community Reaction

Local residents have expressed relief at the sentencing, emphasizing the need for vigilance when carrying large sums of cash. Social media comments praised the police for their swift action and warned others to be cautious when withdrawing money.

The case has highlighted the ongoing issue of pickpocketing targeting vulnerable individuals, and authorities are urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious behavior to the police.