At approximately 1:15pm on Saturday, 30 of March 2013, a 76-year-old female victim encountered an intruder in her Öpötiki home.
When she demanded to know what the young man was doing, he grabbed her and demanded cash. The victim attempted to flee but he threatened to kill her if she screamed or called the Police.
He forced her into a bedroom where the victim later escaped through a window and raised the alarm. Meanwhile the offender stole a small amount of cash and then left the address. This attack left the elderly victim bruised and shaken. She was seen by medical staff but fortunately did not require hospital treatment.
Detective Constable Ash Clements describes the assault by saying: "This is a cowardly attack on an elderly female in her home, a place she should be safe. He needs to be caught, this type of offence can not he tolerated in our community.
"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 a man in his late teens, early 20's, 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 the Police as soon as possible.
You can pass information directly to the Öpötiki Police 07 315-1112, the Whakatäne police 07 308-5255 or anonymously via the Crimestoppers line 0800 555111.
Detective Constable Ash Clements
CIB
Eastern Bay of Plenty
NOTE: The victim has asked that the media respect her privacy (not attempt to contact her) and no photos of her injuries will be released.