They said she looks like their grandma

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An older Carlton woman recounted her heartbreak, and a pair of women who asked for a hug because she "looks like their grandmother" took her sentimental necklace.

Rosa Rhodes worked alone in her shop in Carlton Hill-sewing boxes-when she said that two women had robbed the chain that her late father had given her decades ago.

The 71-year-old said that the couple came here on the evening of April 12th because she looked like their grandmother, so they asked to hug her, then they grabbed her from both sides and snatched the jewelry .

"One of them hugged me from the back, the other hugged me from the front-my chains were gone before I realized it," she said.

"I should have known that they were doing something. They came in and wanted some eyebrow tweezers, but who would buy them at the sewing shop? I'm a very friendly person and I didn't expect anything."

Ms. Rhodes said that this necklace was given to her by her father more than 40 years ago.

"He is dead now, but there is a picture of him in it, which means a lot to me," she added.

"It cannot be replaced because it is one of the only things I have to remember him. I really want to get it back."

She described the criminal as a Spanish accent in her twenties and said she was still determined to find the necklace.

A report was made to the police at that time, but she was not informed of any progress of the case.

In view of the increase in Carlton’s crime reports, the shopkeeper told the story, and September was the second highest number of reports in the past 12 months.

In the last month on record, Carlton and Portchester reported 248 violations—more than 50 more than in August.

The most common crimes reported were anti-social behavior (83 incidents), violent and sexual crimes (65 incidents), and shoplifting (24 incidents).

Despite this upsurge, residents seem to be generally unconcerned. Diane McKay, who has lived in Carlton for more than 35 years, said she felt "very safe."

"I think I've only heard of an intrusion once," the 62-year-old said.

"In any case, these numbers have nothing to do with me."

Another 71-year-old local, James Wilson, said: “You let the kids mess around, but it’s nothing terrible. I won’t worry because I’ll notice that this is a problem.”

However, some people did express their concerns about what the increase in reports means.

John and Janice Belton, who live in the area, said: “This really worries us. We didn’t have any troubles ourselves, but it’s not a good sign. I want to see the police nearby, but it’s nice to see them. When walking in the area."

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