LUCY CRAYMER AND HINERANGI VAIMOSO
Attacks on elderly people in Hawke's Bay are out of control, says Age Concern.
Two muggings on elderly people in Hastings and Flaxmere in the past two weeks have alarmed the chairman of Age Concern Flaxmere, Neil Hatcher.
"It's a sad day when we can't just walk down the road alone without feeling vulnerable," Mr Hatcher said.
"In the last couple of weeks it's got into what I call an epidemic situation."
Mr Hatcher said people should be sure to walk in pairs or groups to avoid confrontation.
Three people who allegedly mugged an 81-year-old Hawke's Bay woman on June 29 were arrested on Wednesday.
It was was the second reported attack on an elderly person in the last fortnight.
The 43-year-old man, 30-year-old woman and 23-year-old woman were charged with robbery.
The woman was robbed in Queen Street West, Hastings outside the Countdown Supermarket around 2.30pm.
"The victim had parked her car in Queen Street West and was walking across the road to the supermarket when a woman ran past her, pushed her and snatched her handbag from her shoulder," Hastings police Detective Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said.
Witnesses chased the woman and wrote down the registration of the vehicle she climbed into while others heled the distressed woman.
"Police would like to acknowledge the assistance of the public," Mr Shadbolt said.
Ninety-five-year-old Elsie Jones of Flaxmere was mugged on her way home from the supermarket last Sunday.
Thanks to the help of witnesses and CCTV, arrests were made and an 18 and a 16-year old will appear in court on charges of aggravated robbery.
Closed-circuit television operates in the central business districts of Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North and has assisted the police in solving many serious crimes since it was installed in 2003.
"They're not monitored 24 hours but they are recording the whole time. They rotate 360 degrees and the images are extremely clear," Mr Shadbolt said.
He said elderly people will often be targeted by muggers but there are ways of avoiding danger.
"Elderly women tend to carry the kitchen sink when they should try to just carry a small wallet that can fit into their pocket," he said.
"What has become common is theft from the passenger seats in cars too, so they should keep their handbags on them at all times, especially when they put their groceries in the boot."
TOP STORY: Attacks on elderly `epidemic'
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