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COURT TOLD: Women befriend elderly men then rob them

A GANG of women has been preying on lonely older men in Geelong, befriending them before sneaking into their homes in the middle of the night to assault them and steal money and property, a court has heard.

A GANG of women has been preying on elderly single men in Geelong, befriending them before storming into their homes at odd hours to steal money and property, a court has heard.

One of the alleged offenders, 33-year-old mother of six and ice addict Felicia Kirby, had a bail application rejected in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court was told her alleged crimes included aggravated burglaries, robberies, thefts and deceptions over the past 15 months, including separate attacks on men aged 89, 74, 72 and 67.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kerrie Moroney alleged Kirby committed the offences alongside co-offenders known to police.

“The victims she’s chosen to target are the elderly and vulnerable,” Sen-Constable Moroney said. “They (the female offenders) have been doing this type of offending for years and years and years.”

The court was told Ms Kirby snuck into a 72-year-old Norlane man’s home at 4am on April 20 and jumped on the man while he slept, stealing $40 from the breast pocket of his pyjamas.

Police informant Senior Constable Bianca Shirra said the victim told police he slept with his cash because Ms Kirby had been breaking into his home at night “twice a week for the past six months and stealing money”.

However, the court was told it was unlikely Ms Kirby would be charged for earlier alleged thefts from that man because the details were too sketchy.

The following day Ms Kirby and others allegedly barged into a home on Autumn St, Geelong West, confronting the 67-year-old man who lived there and his disabled brother.

The victim said he knew the assailants, and alleged they threatened to have him bashed if he called police.

He told officers $95, a watch, an iPhone, an iPad and a remote-controlled helicopter were among the items the women stole from him.

Ms Kirby appeared in court yesterday facing at least 15 charges, including stealing from elderly men in their homes in Norlane, Corio and Geelong and thefts from shops in Mildura and Bendigo.

The court heard that on at least four occasions Ms Kirby had identified herself to police by a false name, Bianca Smith.

Police cited this dishonesty in their opposition to Ms Kirby’s bail application. They also noted her repeated failure to comply with court orders.

Ms Kirby’s bid for bail relied on an offer from her friend that she could live at his home in Halstead Place, Geelong West. However the man did not appear in court to verify that offer. The court heard she had been using ice “most days” before being jailed last month.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said the case against Ms Kirby appeared strong, predicting a jail term of at least six months for her if all the allegations were proven, and denying her application for bail.

“I am extremely concerned at the modus operandi being used,” Ms McGarvie said.

Ms Kirby will return to court next month, as will some of her alleged co-offenders.