Pensioner attacked during burglary

Mary McAleese was held down during the robbery

An elderly lady has become the third victim of violent robbery in as many days in Northern Ireland.

The incident happened at the woman's home at Bells Bridge on the Cregagh Road in Belfast at about 1500 BST on Wednesday.

The woman, who is in her 80s, was attacked when she answered her door to a woman who had an English accent and inquired about her health.

A man appeared and pushed the lady onto the hall floor and held his hand over her mouth and nose.

The woman went into a front room and stole a red canvas bag containing money and savings books.

Elderly people are becoming especially vulnerable to crime

The pensioner escaped uninjured but was shocked and upset following her ordeal.

Police in Castlereagh have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Meanwhile, police in County Londonderry appealed for information after two men tricked their way into an 84-year-old woman's house in Coleraine on Tuesday evening.

She answered a knock at the door of her Union Street home at about 1630 BST.

The men - claiming to be doing a survey on damp - then conned their way into the house.

Once inside, they pushed her onto the settee in the living room.

Similar assault

While one of them held her down, the other ransacked the house.

They got away with money and a cheque book.

The latest incidents follow a similar attack on a 78-year-woman in east Belfast on Monday.

Olive Hawthorne, who is disabled, suffered bruising after two men tricked their way into her home where they assaulted and robbed her.

In a televised appeal, she warned other elderly people to be alert for tricksters.

Police believe the attackers in that instance were local and have appealed for information.