Two recent home invasions which left two elderly women shaken but unharmed have Vancouver police seriously concerned.
The first incident took place in the early evening of March 9. A 79-year-old woman opened the back door of her South Cambie home after hearing voices in the backyard. She was then knocked down by an assailant who shut her in a nearby room and proceeded to ransack the house. After the intruder left, the senior - who suffered bruises and cuts on her arms - was able to get to a neighbour's home and contact police.
The second incident occurred in the Renfrew-Collingwood area around 8 p.m. on March 17. An 81-year-old woman heard repeated knocks on her front door which she did not answer. Soon after, she heard distinct banging noises near the back of her home and a man entered her bedroom and demanded cash and jewellery before he was joined by another male. The two men ransacked the house and left.
The woman was unharmed and able to push an alert button. Police were called around 3 a.m. and are currently investigating why the call was made hours after the incident.
In both cases, the suspects were described as wearing dark clothes, but police have found no further links other than the similarity of the victims. Some details are being held back to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Police have issued a public warning, and seniors are encouraged to call 911 before alerting family members when in distress.