Updated 1pm

A 45-year-old woman has been charged with robbing three elderly people at their St Paul's Bay home.

Shirley Al Omar was taken to court on Monday after police arrested her on Sunday, moments after the alleged theft took place.

Police say Al Omar, accompanied by her 13-year-old son, knocked on the door of a house on Triq Sir Luigi Preziosi at around noon on Sunday, begging for money. 

One of the house's elderly residents went indoors to get some money. However, she was allegedly followed by the woman, who snatched some cash that was on the table and fled the scene with the boy.

Members of the Rapid Intervention Unit searched for the two in the area, tracking them down on Triq l-10 ta’ Frar within half an hour.

The money was found on the boy, the police said. The child is now in the care of Aġenzija Appoġġ, which has been tasked with tracking his relatives.

Al Omar appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the theft, failing to care for her teen son, breaching the terms of a conditional discharge and being a recidivist. 

She did not request bail and was remanded in custody. Inspectors Lydon Zammit and Stephen Gulia prosecuted. 

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