Moment three women steal antique bracelet from wrist of lone 97-year-old woman - as gang are jailed over series of distraction burglaries

Published: 18:34, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 18:40, 7 July 2026 Three women who targeted and distracted a vulnerable pensioner before stealing an antique bracelet from her wrist have been jailed for multiple burglaries.  Geta Schian, 33, Geneza Dumitru, 35, and Sefora Mazarache, 27, worked together to charm and distract their victims, often complimenting them or hugging them before snatching their jewellery.  The trio targeted a series of vulnerable women across Manchester over several months between October 2025 and January.  New footage captures the three women encircling one of their targets, a 97-year-old woman, who was sitting on a seated walking aid as she waited for her husband to collect her on Dale Street, Manchester.  Mazarache and Schian surround their victim, holding her wrist while hugging and kissing her, before brazenly stealing her jade bracelet as pedestrians walk past. Dumitru walks away from the group, seemingly on watch, before returning to stand alongside her accomplices and the elderly woman.   The trio, who were arrested on theft and robbery-related offences in January, were sentenced on Monday to a combined total of more than six years in prison.  Manchester Crown Court heard that, on a separate occasion in October 2025, Mazarache targeted a woman walking her son to nursery along Meldon Road in Rusholme, Manchester. New footage captures the three women encircling one of their targets, a 97-year-old woman, who was sitting on a seated walking aid as she waited for her husband to collect her on Dale Street, Manchester Mazarache and Schian surround their victim, holding her wrist while hugging and kissing her, before brazenly stealing her jade bracelet Dumitru walks away from the group, seemingly on watch, before returning to stand alongside her accomplices and the elderly woman The thief flattered the mother and child at around 12.30pm before seizing the woman's hand and painfully pulling on her ring.  Mazarache then attempted to steal the woman's phone in broad daylight as she screamed for help before walking away.  On another occasion in November 2025, Mazarache and Schian closed in on a woman walking home alone along Oxford Road, Manchester.  Pleading for food and money, the pair grabbed and hugged her before leading the woman under an archway, where they stole a gold bracelet from her wrist. Mere hours before targeting the 97-year-old woman, the trio approached another woman on January 10 as she waited for her daughter on Oxford Street in Manchester.  Two of the women chatted with their victim while the third kept watch. One of the perpetrators hugged the woman and slid her ring off her finger, only fleeing when she screamed for help.  Schian, of Calbourne Avenue, east London, and Dumitru, of Dukinfield Road, Manchester, were each sentenced to 28 months in prison. Schian was sentenced for attempt of theft from the person of another, while Dumitru was convicted of robbery. Greta Schian, of Calbourne Avenue, east London, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for attempt of theft from the person of another Geneza Dumitru, of Dukinfield Road, Manchester, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for robbery Sefora Mazarache, of Jessop Street, Manchester, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for attempt robbery Mazarache, of Jessop Street, Manchester, was sentenced to 38 months in prison after being convicted of attempted robbery.  Speaking after sentencing, PC Dombai, of Greater Manchester Police, said police would take such incidents 'very seriously'. 'We hope this sentence sends a message that robbery will not be tolerated,' he said.  'We will pursue offenders and bring them to justice. If you see anything like this, please do report it to the police and we will pursue it with the greatest importance.'