Video: Police appeal for help in death of Yang Yin Ping KEY POINTS:
Police said today that there has been a good response to identikit pictures of three male suspects released as a result of a fatal attack on an elderly Chinese woman, but more help from the public was needed.
Yin Ping Yang, 80, died in hospital on June 14, three days after she tried to fight off a brutal attacker in her home in Manurewa, South Auckland.
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry today appealed to the public to remain vigilant for sightings of the three suspects seen loitering around Ms Yang's home in the weeks before the attack.
Two of the men were thought to be Tongans between 16 and 20. The third was described as Maori with a distinctive tattoo from his neck to his elbow.
Police have already visited nearly 700 homes and spoken to 2000 people about the men.
Suspicious activities in the area had included people posing as door-to-door salesmen asking personal questions such as when the occupants were likely to be home.
Police, who have ruled out a sexual attack, believe that robbery may have been the motive.
Mr Gutry warned people, particularly in the Asian community, not to keep large amounts of money at home.
"We have a good banking system in New Zealand. If you've got money put it in the bank," he said.
One of the men in the identikit pictures was seen wearing a blue bandana, but Mr Gutry was unable to confirm that this meant that the attack had links to illegal gangs.
- NZPA
