'Despicable': Police investigating spate of attacks against the elderly across Perth
Police across Perth are investigating a series of disturbing attacks targeting the elderly.
The Police Minister has described the spate of incidents as the work of predators who are "despicable" and "gutless".
There has been a spike in attacks on seniors over the past seven days, the latest on Thursday afternoon which left an 88 year old great grandmother in hospital with a dislocated shoulder.
Alexia was just around the corner from the St James home she has lived in for 32 years when she was attacked.
Her bag was yanked from her hand on Albany Highway at the intersection of Wyndham Street.
The man ripped it from her with such force that Alexia hit the concrete and dislocated her shoulder - and now she is too frightened to go out on her own.
Her attacker is described as in his early 20s, fair-skinned, stocky, wearing a black T-shirt and black pants.
In another shocking incident, a 94-year-old war veteran has been robbed of his pension during an act of kindness.
When a stranger knocked on Ernest Haynes' door and asked for a glass of milk, he didn't hesitate.
Later, his next door neighbour discovered Mr Haynes' wallet had been stolen.
Inside the wallet was his $1500 pension and a sentimental piece of gold that belonged to his late wife.
The young man, who Mr Haynes believes was aged between 16 and 18, was recorded on a neighbour's security camera arriving at the house on his bike at 11.22am on Tuesday morning.
He was inside the man's home for just four minutes before cameras catch him cycling away.
"The last couple of days a have been very disheartening for him," Mr Haynes' neighbour Wayne said.
"It's been really sad and upsetting to see him virtually in tears."
Apart from these two recent incidents, a 63-year-old woman was the victim of a car-jacking in St James on September 29.
On the same day in Meadow Springs a 75-year-old man was attacked by two teenagers as he sat in his car.
On October 2, an 84-year-old woman was targeted for her handbag in Calista and dragged along the ground.
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Lastly, on Thursday an 85-year-old woman's purse and car were stolen in Eden Hill when a man snuck into her home as she was putting her bins out.
Police say there are no links between any of these incidents but there appears to be a trend of attacking vulnerable senior citizens.
They are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
