Brazen mugging shocks Warwick

A BRAZEN and violent daytime mugging that put an elderly man in hospital has sparked shock and outrage from the Warwick community, with police still hunting for the culprit.

Warwick Police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said the 76year-old victim had been walking home after buying his newspapers about 6.30am on Sunday when he was accosted by an unidentified man in Acacia Ave.

Sergeant Slater said the elderly man was asked a question but didn’t hear it, before the offender grabbed at the shirt pocket carrying the man’s phone.

“He also tried to grab a bag the victim was carrying in his hand,” he said.

“They’ve had a bit of a struggle. During the struggle, this gentleman has fallen heavily to the ground and sustained injuries, including lacerations and bruising to his face and knees.

“His glasses were also broken during the scuffle. The offender wasn’t able to get any property and ran away.”

The victim was taken to Warwick Hospital in a stable condition.

The elderly man’s family members took to social media to slam the attacker and share their own account of the incident.

(A) passenger wearing a black hoody (sic) tried to take his phone and wallet, and when he wouldn’t hand it over he shoved him to the ground,” she said.

Sergeant Slater said detectives were still investigating whether the brazen act was linked to reports of a car being stolen from a Weewondilla Rd home.

He said a white Kia Carnival four-wheel drive was taken from the Warwick home between 11pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday, with the thieves believed to have entered the house through a window to steal the keys.

The car was found abandoned at Carbrook on Sunday afternoon.

CarsGuide.com estimates the value of a 2021 Kia Carnival to be between $48,880 and $72,990 depending on the model.

No one has yet been arrested or charged in relation to either the mugging or car theft.