Elderly woman confronted by 'armed' man in Hillsborough, Auckland - son

The woman was allegedly confronted at her home in Staveley Ave, Hillsborough.

An elderly Hillsborough woman was threatened by a balaclava-clad man with a gun this morning, her son has said in a post to a Facebook community group.

His mother was hanging washing in her back yard when the alleged incident occurred, the son wrote.

He couldn't be contacted directly, but a police spokeswoman confirmed police were called to a Staveley Ave home in the south-west Auckland suburb at 9.33am.

"Someone called police to say an 83-year-old woman, who was in her back yard, was threatened by a man who asked for jewellery.

"He is described as having his face covered and possibly holding a firearm of some description. The lady wasn't injured [but is] understandably shaken up."

The man fled the scene, police believe without taking anything, the spokeswoman said.

"Police have been conducting enquiries this morning and the investigation is ongoing."

The elderly woman did not want to comment when contacted by the Herald.

"It's been quite a trauma for me and I don't want [to say] anything."

Her neighbours either didn't want to comment and or had not heard about the allegation.

The woman's son wrote on Facebook that neighbours were alerted after his mother yelled at the man. In a later comment he described the alleged weapon as a hand gun.

He praised police for their "fantastic and large" response, and said the man's description matched that of someone who had knocked on his mother's door the day before looking for someone. "Please please share this and beware of these people and behaviours."