Jail beckons for thief who distracted victims
WOMAN ‘BEFRIENDED’ HER VICTIMS
A HEARTLESS thief who preyed on elderly victims as they tried to withdraw their hard-earned savings faces jail.
Asisa Kamali, 47, loitered in Sunderland city centre and attempted to befriend vulnerable pensioners on three separate occasions in January and February this year.
After earning their trust, Kamali walked the elderly victims to an ATM machine and distracted them as they inputted their pin number – before secretly pocketing their bank card.
With her victims unaware, she would then return to the cash machines and use the stolen cards to secretly steal their money.
But Kamali’s appalling actions have now been laid bare after police became aware of the spate of crimes and launched a city centre investigation. Kamali, of Chester Terrace North, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft when appearing before magistrates in South Tyneside on May 11, as well as a separate charge of burglary.
She has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month.
PC Steve Stringer, of Northumbria Police, said: “The brazen nature of Kamali’s criminality is absolutely deplorable – and I’m sure the public will share in our disgust that somebody would target the most vulnerable people in our society in this way.
“Her actions were cold and heartless, taking advantage of her victims’ friendliness in order to steal their hard-earned cash.
“I am pleased that she has now been identified and convicted of these offences following a significant policing operation which was deployed in Sunderland city centre in order to identify the person responsible.
“She now must deal with the consequences of her actions when she is sentenced in the coming weeks.
“Our city centre neighbourhood team actively patrol the streets in order to look out for this type of criminality.
“What I would ask the public is to be vigilant that criminals such as Kamali often target elderly people, especially those who are alone, in order to secure a quick win.
“Please make sure you and any loved ones are wary if approached by strangers who are keen to accompany you to a cash point, and make sure your personal details are kept safe. If you see anybody acting suspiciously in the city centre, please contact us as soon as possible.”
On January 6 this year, Kamali targeted an 83-year-old man in Market Square and, after watching him input his pin number, she secretly stole his bank card and used it to withdraw £800 in four separate transactions.
The following week, on January 18, she befriended a 93-year-old pensioner in the same location and accompanied her to a cash point.
At that point, Kamali began distracting her as she inputted her pin number – with the victim later believing her card must have been swallowed by the machine.
But Kamali had stolen it – and had stolen £300 in two separate transactions.
Then on February 24, Kamali targeted a 63-year-old woman on Athenaeum Street and watched her input her pin, before stealing her card and using it to withdraw £300.
Kamali pleaded guilty to all three incidents, as well as a burglary at the Premier Inn on Hind Street when she entered a staff office and stole £100 from an employee through sleight of hand.
In a statement prepared for court, one of Kamali’s victims – the 93-yearold woman – said: “This has left me feeling angry that somebody has taken advantage of my good nature and stolen my money, which I can’t replace.”
Kamali is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on June 1.