Teens attack woman, 95, for bread and $2

Hastings police are searching for two teenagers who smashed a frail 95-year-old woman to the ground in broad daylight in suburban Flaxmere yesterday - for a loaf of bread and the $2 in her purse.

The victim, who suffered cuts to her hands and arms as she fell on to the concrete pavement, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police have appealed for witnesses to what they called a "cowardly attack on an elderly and frail member of the community". She had been on her way home after shopping at the local supermarket.

Constable Andrew Clinton said the victims' assailants were two male Maori in their early-to-mid teens.

Both wore track pants and T-shirts and one, or both, might have been wearing baseball caps.

- NZPA