Police say they have named a man in connection to several attacks on the elderly in Auckland because they are so concerned about the escalating violence involved.
William Murphy, 36, was spotted at an ATM close to where an elderly woman was tied up and robbed, just days before the severe beating of another woman on Saturday night.
Police identify William Murphy saying he used an ATM machine close to where a woman was attacked on 20 June. Photo: NZ POLICE
There have been eight such attacks on the elderly across Auckland in the past six days.
Detective Inspector Karyn Mathus said the attacks are getting worse, and William Murphy may not be the only person involved.
"We are concerned about the escalating violence and the series of home invasion robberies across Auckland this last week, Murphy is a key person of interest to our inquiry and we need to locate him and find out what he has been doing this last week."
Sylvie van de Geer, the daughter of the latest victim, said her mother was repeatedly punched in the face, and thought she was going to die.
Ms van de Geer said her mother was wrestled to the ground and thrown into furniture before being tied to a chair.
Police say in the latest attack the man forced his way into the victim's Pakuranga home after claiming to offer advice about security.
They say a Maori or Polynesian man knocked on the door of her home just after 8pm on Saturday and said there was an intruder in the area.
After a brief conversation about security, the man pushed past her, tied her up with shoelaces, assaulted her with a weapon he found in the house, then fled with bank cards and cash.
Detective Inspector Karyn Mathus said in most of the attacks the man's pretended to be a police officer before being let inside.
Ms Mathus wouldn't say how William Murphy is involved, only that they want to find him as soon as possible.
Before the Pakuranga incident, people were targeted in Remuera, Penrose, Orewa, Takapuna, Northcote, Herne Bay and Westmere.
Police say elderly people should only let people into their homes if they recognise them.
