Mugged for her messages

Apr 21 2009 by Jenny Wood, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

AN elderly Perth woman is in hospital after being mugged on her own doorstep in broad daylight by two teenagers who stole her bag of shopping.

In a robbery branded “cowardly” and “wicked” the attackers left the 81-year-old woman lying badly injured as they fled with her shopping bag containing bread rolls and a paper.

Perth’s Detective Inspector Steve Bissett, the officer leading the enquiry, hit out: “This has been a particularly cowardly and sickening assault on an elderly woman in broad daylight.”

He continued: “This is a very serious assault. While on the face of it the injuries may not appear life-threatening, any attack on an 81-year-old can have serious consequences.”

The shocking attack took place on Sunday in Tulloch’s Primrose Crescent and local councillor Dave Scott has urged the community to do everything they can to help find those responsible for the appalling attack.

“This is shocking, absolutely shocking. It’s just downright wicked.

“I would urge anyone who knows, or thinks they know, or even has a suspicion that they know, about those behind this attack to go immediately to the police,” the councillor appealed.

On Sunday, shortly before midday, the 81-year-old woman was returning from a trip to the local corner shop to her Primrose Crescent home.

As she approached her front door the lady was confronted by two men. One knocked her to the ground, before making off with her bag.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Perth Royal Infirmary. She was found to have fractured her hip and shoulder and underwent surgery on Sunday. She faced a further operation yesterday.

One Tulloch pensioner told the PA: “It came as a real shock to everyone in the area. It’s horrible that something like this should happen to a frail old woman who was just popping out to the shops.”

The items stolen from the woman – which included her brown shopping bag and a black, fabric purse with a clasp fastening – have yet to be found.

Police have ploughed significant resources into the hunt for those responsible for the robbery.

Lead detective DI Bissett explained: “We are in the process of checking CCTV footage and officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the Primrose Crescent, Pullar Terrace, Nimmo Avenue, and Cairns Crescent areas in a bid to identify the pair responsible.

“If anyone has any information about who might be responsible I would urge them to get in touch,” he appealed.

Also sickened by the attack was head of Perth CID, Detective Chief Inspector Bruce Kerr, who said: “This is a particularly appalling crime which is exacerbated by the age of the victim.”

Anyone who can identify the pair responsible for the robbery, or saw anyone matching their descriptions in the area, should get in touch with Perth Police by calling 0300 111 2222.

Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.