Edition 198
www.thecourier.es
Friday 5th December 2014
UNSEASONAL SPIRIT
WIDOW ROBBED THREE TIMES IN A MONTH
By TONY MAYES
A 74yearold Torrevieja woman has discovered how wicked some people can be not once but three times – after she suffered an unwanted hattrick of daylight mug gings in just in a MONTH. Maria Carmen Schroeler, who lives in Los Balcones, was not injured in the attacks, but as she told The Courier, her faith in basic human nature has been stretched to breaking point. Maria is severely infirm, and has difficulty walking even short distances. She walks with a stick making her an easy target for opportunist thieves who make their attacks in broad daylight. A few years ago, when leaving a branch of the Mercadona supermarket, Maria had her purse snatched. She thought that would be the first and last time she had to ensure such a thing, but things got much worse last month. Maria Carmen, who was widowed just six months ago, went to the Santander Bank on Torrevieja’s seafront at the start of November, where she drew out 300 euros for a fort
night’s housekeeping. But as soon as she got outside, a scruffylooking man in his fifties pushed her and she fell. He then made off with her purse containing all the money. She hadn´t fully recovered from that attack when it happened again, when she was outside a chemist. In that case, an East European woman brushed up to her, and then pushed Maria Carmen and snatched her handbag which again contained about 300 euros. The last attack again happened outside the Santander Bank, on Tuesday of last week. A friend had taken Maria Carmen to Torrevieja Hospital to have major ulcers on her legs redressed, and then took her to the bank to sort out her financial affairs out following her husband´s death as well as drawing out 500 euros to keep her going during the lead up to Christmas. She noticed a young man in his thirties inside the bank and he followed her out when she went through the double security doors. Once outside, he pushed her hard and she fell to the ground, with her purse once again snatched. In total, the last month has left the disabled widow just over one thousand euros worse off thanks to the three daylight street robberies. Maria Carmen told The Courier: "These people are just plain wicked. They target the old and infirm and strike so quickly. We don´t stand a chance against strong, young peo ple. If I met someone so hard up, I would give them 20 euros to help them out. Why are some people so cruel these days?" she asked.
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