HITTING A NEW LOW
Robbed by a woman who asked for a glass of water
CAIRNS’ crime scourge is being taken to new depths of depravity.
Parramatta Park pensioner Hemma Somlo (above) was robbed of cash, credit cards and valuables while she fetched a glass of water for a woman faking friendliness.
The 88-year-old victim was saving for a much-needed eye operation.
A COLD-HEARTED burglary of an elderly woman in desperate need of cash to finance an eye operation has left a Parramatta Park pensioner devastated.
Priding herself on her trusting nature and desire to help others, 88-year-old pensioner Hemma Somlo was feeding the birds outside her Charles St unit when she was approached by a middle-aged woman.
A conversation followed before the woman asked for a glass of water.
Ms Somlo didn’t fulfil the request until pressed for the drink a second time and went inside to fetch the water.
“I gave her a glass of water and she snuck behind me (and) took my money and my purse and valuables and she was gone,” she said.
“I was angry at her, she took my credit cards and she went shopping with a few hundred dollars.
“I feel dreadful, I feel awful. “And I was saving up to have an eye operation.”
A schoolteacher before retiring, Ms Somlo was born in Austria and travelled to the jungle of Bolivia where she met her future husband. The pair migrated to Australia, married and together raised a daughter.
Now 20 years since arriving Down Under, Ms Somlo’s husband is dead and her adult daughter has pursued a career in Europe.
“I have been naturalised and I love this country,” she said.
“I have no family but I have good friends.”
A teary Ms Somlo, reflecting on the traumatic ordeal, said she hoped something positive could come from it.
“I want to warn others that this could happen,” she said.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Brendon Skerke said Cairns police were aware of the burglary alleged to have taken place on April 3 at 9am.
“I can confirm police are investigating the burglary and subsequent fraud,” he said.
“Police have attended and are in the process of viewing CCTV footage in the area. Investigations by the Property Crime Squad are ongoing.”
Overwhelmed at the invasion of a modest unit she has turned into a home, Ms Somlo said she couldn’t shake a feeling of being violated.
“It’s the atrocity of what they did to a pensioner,” she said.
“She abused my trust and stole my things.
“I feel like I have been raped, and all I can do is warn other people.”