Woman's purse, walker stolen by 2 men

HAYWARD -- An elderly Hayward woman was thrown to the ground Tuesday morning and robbed of her purse and walker, police said Wednesday.

Through a translator, the 72-year-old told police that she was walking to a bus stop at about 6 a.m. on Calaroga Avenue near Peterman Avenue when she was suddenly grabbed from behind, police said.

The woman told authorities that a man placed his hand over her mouth so she could not scream for help, and began checking her pockets. When he did not find anything in her pockets, he reportedly threw her to the pavement.

The woman's handbag was attached to a walker. A second, younger man then told the first man to take the woman's walker, police said.

The first did so and ran away toward Southgate Elementary School. The second assailant ran away in the opposite direction, toward Peterman Avenue, police said.

The woman waved down a person, who gave her a ride to St. Rose Hospital. That person later saw the walker abandoned on nearby Southgate Street. It was recovered and returned to the woman with the handbag, which was missing its contents.

Hayward police met with the woman Tuesday morning after being contacted by St. Rose Hospital security personnel. She had suffered minor injuries, police said.

"This is one of the worst kinds of crimes," said Hayward police Lt. Christine Orrey. "Anytime anyone is attacked and robbed, it's a horrible thing. But kids and elderly people are defenseless, and to prey upon them is despicable."

The assailants were described as a 40-year-old man wearing a long black shirt and a 20-year-old man with a thin build, wearing a black baseball cap and white T-shirt.

Anyone with additional information can call the Hayward Police Department at 510-293-7000, or the Crime Stoppers of Alameda County hot line at 510-293-7197.

Jason Sweeney can be reached at 510-293-2469 or jsweeney@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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