Man allegedly steals $150,000 in jewellery with 'prayer scam' in Sydney

A man has been charged after a woman told police she had $150,000 worth of jewellery stolen from her in what police called a prayer scam in Sydney.

On Thursday, January 9, a 47-year-old woman was on a lunch break in Darling Harbour when a man she didn't know introduced himself to her as a spiritual guide, police say.

During the subsequent conversation, police say, the man offered to bless the woman.

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In the following weeks, the man again met with the woman and allegedly asked her to provide jewellery as part of the blessing ritual.

It's alleged that during the ceremony, the man placed a weighted coconut onto the jewellery, and that he replaced the valuables with empty boxes and other items while their gazes held.

When the woman realised her jewellery was missing, she reported it to police, who began investigating.

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At about 1.45pm yesterday, police arrested a 25-year-old man near Darling Harbour.

They also executed a search warrant at a hostel on Elizabeth Street in central Sydney, and found jewellery alleged to belong to the woman.

The man was charged with fraud related offences and granted bail to appear in court on Monday, February 10.

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