Mary German

2000 Just Another Year To Area Seniors

By STEPHEN R. LEVINE slevine@leader.net
 Wednesday, January 05, 2000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - Three days after an elderly resident was mugged on her way
home from Mass, members of the city's senior citizen community say they're
fearful the same thing could happen to them. Pearl Rudawski, 82, of the B'nai
B'rith Apartments on Northampton Street, was mugged Saturday evening just
around the corner from her home after returning from St. Nicholas Church,
friends said. According to police, she struck her head on the sidewalk after
an assailant dragged her to the ground trying to get her purse. She remained
in serious condition at Mercy Hospital on Tuesday. B'nai B'rith residents
said a mugging last summer prompted management to improve the building's
exterior lighting and post a security guard in the lobby at night. The door is
locked at all times. ``One woman was mugged right outside our door,'' said
resident Ann Raynor. ``Now I never go out after dark, even in my car.''
Residents at B'nai B'rith and Heritage House, a retirement community across
the street, said attacks against the elderly are on the rise. ``There were no
problems years ago,'' said Martha Horan, 78, a lifelong area resident who has
lived at B'nai B'rith for 11 years. Now, she said, criminals are much more
brazen. ``They even do it in the daytime.'' Wilkes-Barre police were unable
to provide statistics on attacks on the elderly in the recent past, but Times
Leader files showed several. 
 An elderly Plains Township woman was carjacked outside a Wilkes-Barre
Wendy's restaurant Dec. 26. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A young couple allegedly mugged two senior citizens Nov. 30 in Kingston and
Forty Fort. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A Pringle man and three juvenile accomplices allegedly robbed an elderly
Plymouth grocer Oct. 19. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 An elderly Nanticoke woman was assaulted and robbed at her home March 11. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Police Chief William Barrett said anecdotal accounts do not
paint a sufficient picture of increased attacks on the elderly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barrett said aggravated assault is a felony and carries mandatory state
prison time. ``Should you decide to do this, you're facing some very serious
consequences.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barrett said detectives are investigating the attack on Rudawski but have
not made an arrest. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said attacks on the elderly are sometimes difficult to solve because the
victims can ``become so focused on what is going on they don't notice much
about the suspect.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barrett said he doesn't advise elderly residents to stay in after dark but
that they exercise common sense and caution if they go out. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Call Levine at 831-7305. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mugging Of Woman Spreads Fear Among City's Elderly 
Pearl Rudawski, 82, Of The B'nai B'rith Apartments, Remained In Serious
Condition Monday After Being Assaulted On Saturday.

Mugging Of Woman Spreads Fear Among City's Elderly Pearl Rudawski, 82, Of The B'nai B'rith Apartments, Remained In Serious Condition Monday After Being Assaulted On Saturday.