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National | Hamilton

Hamilton Police probe assault on elderly woman

Hamilton Police are investigating an assault on an elderly woman and the theft of her handbag at a residential property in Fifth Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Police were alerted by a neighbour of the victim at around 1pm.

Detective Sergeant Nick O'Brien says, "Our victim came home and parked her car in the garage.  She was then approached by a young man who initiated a conversation with her in the driveway."

He continues by saying "This man has then used force to take the woman’s handbag from her, causing her to fall to the ground.  The man then left the property on foot and was last seen in the Fifth Avenue/Tramway Road area.  The victim is obviously traumatised by this experience and was subsequently taken to Waikato Hospital for observation."

The man is described as a teenage light-skinned male wearing a red cap in the area of the incident between midday and 1pm.

Police wish to speak to anyone who saw the suspect and are urging the public to contact Constable Kerry Tinworth at the Hamilton Central Station on 07 858 6200.