Woman steals to play pokies
Emma Lee Lamb
Martin Hunter
This is the woman who stole several thousand dollars from her elderly neighbour to play the pokie machines.
Emma Lee Lamb, 44, of New Brighton, pleaded guilty in the district court on Wednesday to 13 charges relating to an Eftpos card she took from her 82-year-old neighbour.
She withdrew $7370 in lots of up to $900 over three days in August after accessing the PIN. She unsuccessfully tried to get another $4960 in 11 transactions.
Lamb was caught when ANZ Bank security measures detected major anomalies in the frequency and amounts being withdrawn on the card.
Lamb, who was trusted by the elderly woman, had been looking after her and driving her to the supermarket.
Emma Lee Lamb, 44, of New Brighton, pleaded guilty in the district court on Wednesday to 13 charges relating to an Eftpos card she took from her 82-year-old neighbour.
She withdrew $7370 in lots of up to $900 over three days in August after accessing the PIN. She unsuccessfully tried to get another $4960 in 11 transactions.
Lamb was caught when ANZ Bank security measures detected major anomalies in the frequency and amounts being withdrawn on the card.
Lamb, who was trusted by the elderly woman, had been looking after her and driving her to the supermarket.
Lamb told The Star yesterday she had spent the money on playing the pokie machines, but would not say how much or where.
Asked if she regretted what she had done or felt sorry for her elderly victim, Lamb said: ``It's got nothing to do with you (The Star). I've had a gutsful.''
She then hung up.
The elderly woman told The Star Lamb had not spoken to her or apologised since she was arrested.
She still lives next door to her.
``She's been living next door to me for 10 years and she's always helped me out around the house. We had quite a good friendship but not anymore.
``For the last eight years we would regularly go out shopping and have lunch at a restaurant. I can't even talk to her. I can't even look at her. I never thought she would've done anything like this to me.
``She must've thought I needed ripping off. She's had a party with my money. I trusted her.''
ANZ has refunded the stolen money.
``I think she has committed an awful crime. It was so awful what she did to me. She should go to jail or have some form of severe punishment and not be given a slap on the hand.''
She will be sentenced early next year on the 13 charges of taking a document for the purpose of gaining pecuniary advantages and using that document for pecuniary advantages.
On August 18, Lamb had taken the woman to the Fresh Choice supermarket at Barrington. When the woman went to withdraw money from an ATM she watched her putting in the PIN.
When they got home, Lamb took the Eftpos card from the elderly woman's purse as they were bringing in the groceries.
Lamb denied she had taken the card but ATM security footage showed her withdrawing the money.
Lamb had almost drained her neighbour's account.
The last time Lamb appeared before the courts was in the 1990s for minor offending.
Sergeant Andrew Judson who investigated the case said Lamb had committed a despicable offence.
``She's targeted an elderly lady who trusted her. The victim was in a vulnerable position and lost thousands of dollars. Anyone who targets the elderly like that is just despicable.''
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