by Kelly Makiha kelly.makiha@dailypost.co.nz
A woman in her 70s has been raped by a man who broke into her central Rotorua house and climbed into her bed.
The woman tried unsuccessfully to fight off her attacker and was left with multiple bruises as a result of what police say was a vicious, "shocking and disturbing" crime that has left them speechless.
The crime has prompted a call for government-funded security alarms to be given to all people aged over 70 and living alone.
Detective Sergeant John Wilson said the woman, who lives in a house in the central city near the Rotorua Lakefront, was attacked while she slept about 3am yesterday. She woke to find the man in her bedroom. He assaulted and raped her before running off towards the Lakefront.
Mr Wilson said the woman tried her best to fight him off. She has been left with bruises all over her body, mainly around her neck and has injuries to her hands.
"What possesses someone to rape a woman in her 70s? It's bad enough to have this happen to any woman but someone of that age is shocking. It's not often that I'm lost for words," Mr Wilson said.
He said the woman's house was being forensically examined by detectives and scientists from Environmental Science and Research in Auckland.
"This attack is sick. It could be anyone's mother or grandmother. It's appalling because you shouldn't have this happen to you in your own home."
He pleaded with the public to come forward with any information that might help catch the man.
"Anyone in the CBD [on Tuesday night] who saw anyone fitting this description, please contact us. This is a shocking crime involving the violation of a defenceless elderly woman."
Roma Cook, who has been involved with working with the elderly in Rotorua, said she was shattered to hear about the rape.
She is calling on the Government to fund security alarms for all over 70s living alone, saying the alarm could work in a similar was to the St John Medical Alert. These are given to elderly people in case they get sick and can't call for help. If they push the alert, it sends a message to St John Ambulance. They then ring the elderly person's home and if there is no response, an ambulance is automatically sent.
Mrs Cook said security companies could be funded by the Government to do the same thing.
She said it was a good time for politicians to pick up the idea and make it happen.
"It's just peace of mind," she said.
It was the third sex attack in Rotorua in 10 days. Mr Wilson said police didn't think all three attacks were linked.
On October 18, a 22-year-old woman was attacked on Pererika St as she walked home about 3am. She was dragged into nearby bushes by five Maori men who sexually assaulted her.
Two days later on October 20, an 18-year-old woman was walking in the reserve area off Pererika St in broad daylight, about 1.15pm, when she was approached by a Caucasian man standing next to a five-door Subaru. He tried to grab her handbag but she put up a fight, resulting in him dragging her about 5m towards his car. He pinned her against the car with one hand while trying to open the back door with the other. She managed to kick him and run free.
Mr Wilson said the descriptions of the two Caucasian men were different, with the rapist described as being of solid build and the teenager's attacker being skinny.
CAN YOU HELP?
The rapist is described as:
* a Caucasian man
* Solid build
* Sandy-coloured hair
* No 2 haircut
* Wearing a grey or khaki-coloured T-shirt and black track pants
Ring police on (07) 348 0099 or (0800) TIPOFF.
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