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Burglars attack 88-year-old woman Burglars attack 88-year-old woman
(31 minutes later)
An elderly woman has been assaulted during a burglary at her home in Devon. Burglars have attacked an 88-year-old Devon woman, ransacking her home and leaving her lying on the floor with a broken hip.
Police said the 88-year-old's hip was broken when she was pushed to the ground by two men who broke into her house in Aylesbeare at about midnight. She was pushed to the ground after confronting two men who broke into her house in Aylesbeare on Saturday night.
The woman, who has not been named, was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Her condition is not known. The victim was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where she is awaiting surgery.
A police spokeswoman said the attack happened a few hours after the woman had been celebrating her birthday with friends and family. Police said the "cowardly" attack happened hours after the woman had celebrated her birthday.
The alarm was raised by worried neighbours who were alerted by a banging noise from the woman's home. The alarm was raised after the victim managed to alert her next door neighbour by banging on the wall with her walking stick.
Crash helmetCrash helmet
The officer in charge on the investigation said it was a "horrible crime" which had left an elderly woman alone in great pain. The officer in charge of the investigation said it was a "horrible, cowardly crime" on a defenceless woman, which had left her alone and in great pain.
"Thieves searched her property, stole some of her belongings and then left her alone, not knowing if she would be able to get any help," Det Insp Phil Pascoe said. Det Insp Bill Pascoe said the woman had gone to bed between 2000 and 2100 BST to read a book and was disturbed by the burglars some time afterwards.
The only description the victim has been able to give police is that one of the two men wore a motorcycle crash helmet. "Thieves searched her property, stole some of her belongings and then left her alone, not knowing if she would be able to get any help," he said.
"While type of incident is very rare for rural Devon, I would encourage anyone with information to contact the police," Det Insp Pascoe said. "I would stress this type of crime is rare, but it cannot be accepted or tolerated."
Officers have not yet been able to question the victim, but it is believed one of the two burglars was wearing something on his head - possibly a motorcycle crash helmet.