KEY POINTS:
A 99-year-old woman seriously injured after being attacked in her Palmerston North home overnight remains in a stable condition in hospital tonight.
The woman was understood to have awoken to find an intruder in her house. Neighbours in Rangiora Avenue, Roslyn, reported hearing screams about 2am.
She was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with arm and leg injuries.
"Although police have had a brief talk to her, she is understandably quite traumatised and a full statement is yet to be taken," police spokeswoman Kim Perks saids tonight.
A 20-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault, although no charges had been laid yet, police said.
Investigating officer Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said cases like this were "incredibly rare".
"Hopefully it is reassuring to the community that we have made an early arrest."
- NZPA
