By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE
Someone tried to use an 89-year-old Rotorua widow's money card as she was on her way to hospital after being tied up and beaten unconscious in her home on Christmas Eve.
Emergency services were called at 5.30 pm on Monday after passersby heard the woman crying for help.
Splattered in blood, she had dragged herself 15m from a back room of her small unit in Malfroy Rd to the footpath.
Less than 2km away in Fenton St, an attempt was made at 5.44 to use the woman's money card at an ASB cash Machine near Hamill's Hunting and Fishing store.
At 5.57, the card was again used unsuccessfully at an ANZ money machine in Brookland Rd, Western Heights.
It is believed the person went straight from one machine to the other.
Rotorua police have confirmed that robbery was the most likely motive for the attack. A small amount of cash was taken from the woman's home, but police refuse to say how much.
"Other items" were also taken.
Neither of the two ATM machines was under video surveillance and detectives have appealed for information from anyone who used either machine about the times the stolen card was used.
The woman was last night in a stable condition in Waikato Hospital, where she had undergone surgery earlier in the day for a broken jaw. She did not suffer internal injuries, as first suspected.
Detective Sergeant Mark Loper said the woman could easily have died.
Police knew of no other intruder-type crimes leading up to the attack.
Detectives are not saying how the intruder got into the brick and tile unit the woman had occupied for 15 years. There were no signs of forced entry.
Detective Sergeant Loper warned people not to let strangers into their homes, no matter what the pretext.
Without becoming too fearful, residents should take normal, commonsense security precautions, especially in warm weather, he said.
"This is an isolated case. It is not happening all the time in Rotorua."
Police wish to speak to a solidly built, dark-skinned man, about 1.8m (6ft) tall with short black hair and wearing a baseball cap. He was seen near the unit.
Neighbourhood Support volunteers yesterday distributed more than 100 leaflets in the area, seeking information on any suspicious sightings.
By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE
Someone tried to use an 89-year-old Rotorua widow's money card as she was on her way to hospital after being tied up and beaten unconscious in her home on Christmas Eve.
Emergency services were called at 5.30 pm on Monday after passersby heard the woman crying for help.
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