ELIZA BARLOW | The Edmonton Sun

'They just see a purse,' says elder abuse expert

Thugs who mug the elderly see weakness, not age, when going in for the attack, says a former elder abuse investigator with city police.

"They just see a purse, they just see an opportunity, and they're in a desperate place," said Det. Tony Simioni.

"Thankfully people who target people that old are few and far between."

The issue has been thrust into the spotlight by the brutal March 4 mugging of a 101-year-old woman in the lobby of her New York apartment building.

Rose Morat suffered a fractured cheekbone after a scumbag rifled through the pockets of her coat and punched her in the head before making off with her purse and $33 US.

New York cops believe the same man mugged a second woman, aged 85, for $32 in the neighborhood later that day.

Edmonton has seen its share of random robberies against elderly people.

Last Aug. 2, a 94-year-old woman's purse was snatched as she walked through the parking lot of Glengarry school on her way home from Northgate mall around 2:20 p.m.

The purse-snatcher struck from behind, running as he grabbed the bag and bolted away. The purse contained heart medication, about $100 cash, an ETS seniors bus pass and a set of house keys.

On Jan. 9, 2006, a trusting 86-year-old woman opened her door at 101 Avenue and 120 Street to a lowlife who swiped $60 from her purse.

No information was available yesterday on whether those crimes had been solved.

Const. Brad McMillan of the EPS crime prevention unit agreed that attacks on the elderly are rare.

"Any time it does happen, more than likely (the mugger) is a drug addict who is in desperate need of money for drugs."

McMillan advises seniors to carry as little cash as possible in their purses and only bring the credit cards with them that they need for the outing.

McMillan said people who find themselves being mugged should not resist to avoid being seriously hurt.