An 83-year-old woman successfully fought off a teenager after he allegedly broke into her home and attempted to smother her with a pillow last week.
Anne Balshaw, 83, told 9News intruders broke into her home in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula where she awoke to them rummaging through her wardrobe at about 11.30pm on June 8. After she tried to yell at the offenders, one allegedly grabbed a pillow and held it over her face.
“He then picked up books that were lying on my side table and he started flinging them at me and I cried, ‘Jesus help me’.”
The offenders then fled the scene and Ms Balshaw ran to her neighbour’s house where they called the police. Police believe three offenders broke Ms Balshaw’s home and allegedly stole her Hyundai i30 and $3000 in cash.
Detectives believe the same group is responsible for another home invasion on a nearby street where two cars were stolen.
Three teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested and two of them have been charged with aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, and committing an indictable offence on bail.
The court heard one of the boys has nine other matters before court and his mother, who can’t be identified, sobbed in court as her son was remanded in custody.
The mother told reports that her son had psychological issues and that he would never intentionally try to attack anyone.
