DRESSED in pink pyjamas, the elderly woman walked about at the Toys R Us store in Tampines Mall, and allegedly stole a handbag containing some cash, credit cards and a handphone.

That was on 22 Oct last year.

After reviewing the store's CCTV footage, the store security and staff members kept a lookout for her, and started referring to her as the 'pink panther', after the famous movie about a diamond heist.

A police report was made then, but the woman was not seen again at the store.

That is, until yesterday.

A 70-year-old woman was caught by a staff member of the store as she allegedly tried to steal a wallet.

DIFFERENT COLOUR PYJAMAS

Employees at the store believed she is the same woman, even though this time she was dressed in a pair of beige pyjamas.

It was a 20-year-old part-timer who spotted her. Giving his name only as Mr Azmie, the employee, who has been with the store for less than a year, said:

'I was pushing my stock cart when I saw her acting suspiciously. She was walking at the back of the store with a black wallet. The minute she saw me, she put it under her top.'

Mr Azmie said he approached her and asked what she had put under her top and to take it out. She refused, but he kept insisting.

She finally relented but allegedly told him: 'I don't know. This bag is not mine.'

The wallet contained $12.

Mr Davy Chan, 61, security consultant for Toys R Us, said it was easy to spot her as it was unusual for someone to dress in such a manner at that time of the day in a shopping mall. The incident happened at around lunch time.

Toys R Us calls Mr Chan on its security matters and he will advise its employees. He has been serving the store for 15 years.

After the incident five months ago, he said he had briefed Toys R Us to be on the lookout for the 'pink panther'.

Mr Chan said: 'It really shows that the staff members are vigilant.'

PREVIOUS INCIDENT

A female staff member, who did not want to be identified, said that during the previous incident, the elderly woman had roused suspicion when she entered the store by the exit and left via the entrance.

The alleged victim then was a 35-year-old, but she did not want to be named.

She recalled: 'She (the suspect) was very fast. I picked up my baby and when I looked down at the pram again, my handbag was gone.

'At first, I thought the handbag may have dropped somewhere. She must also be quite confident and not afraid of anybody. My pram was quite near the cashier area.'

When told that the suspect had been caught, the housewife said: 'I'm glad and quite surprised that Toys R Us managed to catch her.

'It shows that they take complaints from their customers seriously.'

Yesterday, the elderly woman appeared calm and showed no sign of panic or distress when caught, even when the police arrived, according to staff members.

The police said they received a call at about 1pm, informing them of a Chinese woman being detained at a store at Tampines Mall.

Upon arrival, the suspect was arrested. Investigations are ongoing.