An elderly woman was left bruised and shaken after an intruder threatened to kill her in her Opotiki home.
The 76-year-old was told she shouldn't scream or call the police after the intruder forced his way into her King Street home at about 1.15pm yesterday.
When she wanted to know what the young man was doing, he grabbed her and demanded cash.
The intruder forced the woman into a bedroom, but she climbed out through a window and raised the alarm.
The offender stole a small amount of cash and left the property.
Medical staff treated the woman. She did not require hospital treatment.
Detective Constable Ash Clements said this type of offence can not he tolerated in the community.
"This is a cowardly attack on an elderly female in her home, a place she should be safe. He needs to be caught.
"In the past, information from the public has been the key to solving crimes of this nature, and this is another situation where we need the local community to call with any information, no matter how unimportant it may seem to them".
The offender is described as being in his late teens or early 20s, a fair-skinned Maori of short stature and slim build.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the King Street area between 1pm and 1.30pm, or anyone who has any knowledge of this incident is asked contact police as soon as possible.
- Melissa Hills of APNZ
