Hamilton police are appalled at a cowardly attack on an elderly woman as she walked from her home to the supermarket on Sunday evening.
Police are seeking witnesses to the attack on the 81-year-old woman, who was walking along Marshall St in Fairfield at 5.15pm when she was approached by two youths on bikes. One snatched her handbag while the other tried to take her walking stick. After stealing her handbag, one of the youths circled around her and said: "Don't call the pigs, we know where you live". The two then rode off.
Senior Sergeant Kevin Richards of East Hamilton police says the woman suffered only minor bruising, but was extremely frightened and upset.
"This is nothing short of a cowardly and vicious assault on a defenceless elderly woman who has no way of fighting back. The people responsible for this obviously saw her as an easy target. It is totally reprehensible," Mr Richards said.
The navy blue handbag contained a small amount of cash, personal documents and some cosmetics. The woman was walking from her Peachgrove Rd home to the New World supermarket in Heaphy Terrace.
Her attackers are described as 14-15-year-old males, Maori or Polynesian and of "podgy" build. One was wearing a black hoody, long black pants with one white stripe down the legs and grey shoes. The other youth was wearing a grey hoody, long grey pants and black shoes.
Both were riding small BMX-type bikes, one of which was black. They were last seen riding off towards Poutney Park at the end of Oxford St.
Police want to hear from anyone who was in that area late on Sunday afternoon and who might have seen the youths. Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Leah Morgan at East Hamilton police, phone 8560291.