A 90-year-old woman with advanced dementia was attacked and robbed of her necklace and wedding ring outside her home in Newham, east London, on July 17. The incident, captured on CCTV, shows assailants pushing the woman to the ground before speeding away with her jewelry.
The woman's daughter, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that her mother requires a strict daily routine due to her dementia. The attack occurred while the pensioner was engaged in her routine of walking to the shop and sweeping outside her house. According to the daughter, CCTV footage shows the woman being called to a car stopped nearby. Hands reached out from the car to remove the necklace from her neck, and the method of taking the ring is unclear. The assailants then pushed her to the ground before driving off.
Neighbors found the woman on the curb. She sustained bruises on her face and cuts on her elbows, though her daughter noted it could have been worse. The victim's dementia prevents her from recalling the incident, leaving her distressed and searching for her missing ring. Her daughter expressed anger and concern for her mother's vulnerability.
This is not the first time the elderly woman has been targeted; her bracelet was allegedly stolen three months prior. The family is appealing for information.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the robbery is ongoing. Officers have reviewed CCTV footage and spoken with witnesses. No arrests have been made at this time. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference CAD 3132/19JUL.