An elderly man living at Goodwin Retirement Village has been reunited with his mobility scooter, a day after another resident was bashed and robbed in his unit.
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Police recovered the 79-year-old man's scooter after it was stolen last Friday.
One teenage boy was arrested after police raided a Tuggeranong home on Tuesday afternoon and other is assisting police.
The theft of the scooter is one of a number of crimes appearing to target the elderly across the city.
Another resident of the independent living aged care facility in Monash was bashed and robbed in his own home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Tuggeranong Police Station Sergeant Chris Meagher said the two teenagers gained access to the man's home through an unlocked garage and an internal door.
They rummaged through an office and took the man's wallet, cards and a small amount of cash.
The teens also punched the elderly man in the head and struck him with an object.
"Just after the assault the elderly person was able to shoo them out of the house and close the internal door. During that incident they managed to get into his car but couldn't start his car," Sergeant Meagher said.
The teens then smashed a car window and ran away.
The man was taken to hospital but was released with minor injuries.
It also followed the brazen robbery of an 89-year-old woman in her own driveway in Braddon last week.
Palmira De Simone strolled outside to get some fresh air on Friday morning, when a "tall, thin man" startled her, allegedly dug through her handbag and ran off with her cash.
When asked if the man charged with stealing the mobility scooter was connected to the robbery, an ACT Policing spokesman said investigations were ongoing.
The teenager is expected to appear in Canberra Children's Court on May 30.
Sergeant Meagher said these crimes were likely opportunistic.
"Our concerns are that this is a particularly cowardly and callous act and the fact that these people and persons associated with them are preying on elderly people in the area. As they are vulnerable they do present an easy target," Sergeant Meagher said.
He urged elderly Canberrans in particular to be mindful of personal security and to look after one another.
"Especially in retirement villages let your neighbours know where you are and what you're doing," he said.
You can report suspicious activity anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or at act.crimestoppers.com.au.
