Nabiha Koriaty had her wallet stolen twice from her cafe, Nabiha’s Kitchen, this year. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Wagga’s cherished community figure and businesswoman, Nabiha Koriaty, says she forgives the man who stole her wallet from her shop.
“I forgive him,” said Nabiha, the owner of Nabiha’s Kitchen, “because no one told him ‘thou shall not steal’.
“I’ve been here 35 years to help someone in need. If he had come and said, ‘I need help’, I would have helped him.
“If he needed money or food, I would have given it to him.
“I’m not here for the money … I try to help the homeless, strangers and people. He just took my wallet.”
On Wednesday (14 August), Nabiha returned from shopping at around 4 pm to find a man sitting outside her cafe talking on a phone.
He then went inside and ordered a milkshake.
Before the 83-year-old began to work, she left her wallet on the shelf in her kitchen.
The man had paid for his milkshake and left, but at around 6 pm, she realised that her wallet had disappeared.
“No one came after him,” Nabiha said.
“I had a headache, felt numb, and I didn’t know what to do. I rang the bank and cancelled my card.”
By the time Nabiha reported her wallet was missing, the offender had allegedly made numerous fraudulent transactions using her business card.
At 4:33 pm, the alleged thief purchased a Telstra pre-paid phone in Melbourne for $160, and at 4:49 pm, made a $499 transaction at Bunnings Rivervale.
Nabiha said the alleged thief was Caucasian in appearance, looked to be in his 40s, was tall, had a skinny face, had no teeth and was seen wearing a black hoodie.
The man who allegedly stole Nabiha Koriaty’s wallet from her was sitting outside her cafe wearing a black hoodie. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
“I’d like to see him face to face and talk to him … and help him,” Nabiha said.
“One day, he may steal something big and end up in jail.
“I feel sorry for people stealing because they don’t know what they’re doing,” Nabiha said.
It is the second time the 83-year-old has been a victim of theft this year.
Earlier in the year, a similar incident occurred. Someone allegedly took her wallet and made $2400 worth of fraudulent transactions.
Nabiha believes the same man was involved in both incidents.
Both alleged thefts have caused Nabiha significant inconvenience, as she had to get a new Medicare card and a new licence each time.
The matter has been reported to the Riverina Police District.
Original Article published by Shri Gayathirie Rajen on Region Riverina.
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