WA couple in 70s assaulted, tied-up during terrifying home invasion in Girrawheen

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW

Three men posing as police officers have carried out a sickening home invasion in which they viciously assaulted and robbed an elderly woman while her husband was bound.

Police have released a shocking photograph of the 73-year-old woman’s injuries to show the level of violence inflicted by the callous thugs, which Police Commissioner Col Blanch said made him “sick to my stomach”.

The victim and her 76-year-old husband have been left “traumatised” by the ordeal, which is believed to have been a targeted plot to rob the couple at their Girrawheen home about 7pm on Tuesday.

Police say the three men gained entry to the home after knocking on the door of the Allinson Drive home dressed in dark clothing and pretending to be police officers, including by showing fake badges.

After getting inside, the 76-year-old man was bound, and his wife brutally assaulted before the trio fled with a significant amount of jewellery — the entire ordeal lasting about 30 minutes.

Police and St John WA ambulance crews then swooped on the street.

The woman suffered serious head and facial injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition on Wednesday afternoon.

Detective Inspector Gary Butler said it was believed the pair were targeted — and that determining how long the offenders had surveilled the home would form part of the police investigation.

Insp. Butler said acts of this kind were “very concerning” and that “violence of this nature is unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.

“The public should feel outraged at this incident,” he said.

“The attack of elderly people in their homes or any person in the home for that matter is unacceptable.”

Mr Blanch said the home invasion made him “sick to his stomach”.

He said a significant number of police officers have been deployed to hunt for the three thugs who carried out the attack.

“I saw the photo of the victim this morning and it made me sick to my stomach,” Mr Blanch said.

“To have people at home suffer that type of attack is a disgrace and I hope those officers bring those (offenders) to justice as soon as possible.

“Any of us would be terribly shaken by that, it sickens me.

“We have a significant police response in place now to look for those offenders.”

Police say the incident was a reminder for the public to ask police officers for photo identification when people attend at the door not wearing a uniform.

“WA Police would like to remind the public that all plain clothed police officers must carry photographic identification and this can be requested,” Insp. Butler said.

A group of detectives could be seen scouring the street and nearby park that runs down the side of the home on Wednesday morning.

A nearby resident — who wished to remain anonymous — said that he spoke to the woman’s partner shortly after the incident, who told him that he had been tied up by the assailants as they ripped bangles off her wrists.

“I couldn’t sleep last night ... I feel sorry for them. They’re an old couple, they’re nice, we’re very close,” the resident said.

Neighbour Maya Chapman said she was “absolutely devastated” and shaken to hear what had happened.

“I could hear lots of doors closing and slamming and dogs barking ... I thought I’d come out and take a look with my son and we were just horrified to see the whole street lined with police and ambulance,” she said.

“I was home with my kids alone and doing the dinner routine and putting them to bed and to walk out and to find out that they’d had been hurt and taken to hospital is absolutely devastating.

“It made me feel scared. You go straight to the assumption of what type of people could do that ... how could they hurt these elderly people?

“My heart goes out to them. They’re absolutely beautiful people in their 70s.

“This is the second attack in the last 12 months on this street alone ... this is one of the best streets in Girrawheen, a very family-oriented street and it makes us feel really really unsettled.”

Resident Harry Moore said he had not heard anything but realised something terrible had unfolded when he walked onto the street and saw police and a helicopter flying above.

“It’s pretty confronting, most of the time it’s a quiet street ... bit of a surprise,” he said.

“You’d hate to think what those people have been through. Yeah, not good.”

Police say one offender is about 165cm tall and the other two are between 185cm to 190cm tall.

They are all described as having olive complexions and were wearing dark coloured long pants, shirts and long-sleeve jackets.

Detectives are urging anyone with any information relating to the incident, or who saw or has CCTV or dash-cam vision, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online here.