Elderly Tulsan robbed with a stun gun

Tuesday, September 27th 2005, 10:25 am

By: News On 6

A terrifying robbery of an elderly Tulsa woman. An 89-year-old woman had walked to a nearby grocery store for ice cream when she was approached by two people who used a stun gun against her before taking off with her purse.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says the robbery happened in a quiet mid-Tulsa neighborhood on Monday, late in the afternoon. The 89-year-old woman had decided to walk to a nearby grocery store and was on her way home when it happened.

She was walking home when two people approached her, one jumped out and placed an object on her hip that stung and burned her. The other grabbed her purse and they took off. The victim's daughter says her mother is fine, but the whole ordeal has been hard for the entire family, which is why she doesn't want to reveal her identity in order to protect her mother. "She's still in a little bit of pain from it, but, I don't understand how these people refuse to get real jobs and instead just prey on people who can't defend themselves."

The victim originally thought they suspects were young women, but other witnesses thought they were young men, perhaps in their 20's. They were white, filthy and driving a junky gold, Mercury Sable.

The victim did get the tag number, Tulsa Police traced it and it had been stolen from a used car lot. "I would like to see these people found and prosecuted to the fullest extent and the laws changed to protect elderly citizens. These people do this and go to jail and they're out the next week and do it again."

The purse was later found in a dumpster and returned. The only thing missing, the victim's checkbook. Her account was immediately frozen to prevent the robbers from getting any gain from hurting a defenseless woman.

Stun guns are easy to buy and don't require a license. They deliver a powerful, burning jolt, but don't usually cause any permanent damage, but can be more harmful when used on an elderly person. This woman had the presence of mind to get a tag number, which was huge and a man who witnessed the attack, did chase after the robbers, but lost them in the neighborhoods.

Tulsa Police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.