Two alleged assaults in the southern suburbs at Mitchell Park and Marion could be linked as police investigate service station and home incidents

A southern suburbs woman has been allegedly assaulted with a sharp weapon at her home. Police have charged a 17-year-old boy and are hunting for two other suspects. See the neighbour’s CCTV.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged after a 68-year-old woman was allegedly bashed with a picket or fence paling at her Mitchell Park home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Advertiser understands a group of men were fighting among themselves before the woman’s front window was smashed and she was allegedly assaulted.

The woman was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police were called to the disturbance on Maldon Ave 3am Saturday morning and continue to hunt for two more suspects, believed to be young men of Aboriginal appearance, wearing hoodies and dark clothing.

Neighbours have told The Advertiser there was a group of young men displaying anti-social behaviour by fighting among themselves and shouting.

A nearby resident’s CCTV captured some of the disturbing behaviour of the alleged thugs before they went on to allegedly assault the woman.

The footage shows one person approaching the resident’s vehicle and testing if the doors were open – however, after failing to gain access, the offender realised he was being recorded and promptly smashed the device.

Afterwards, the group seemingly started dispersing.

The elderly woman then yelled from her window telling them to leave. It is understood the woman’s confrontation motivated the two men to return and smash the front window of the home, which shattered and cut the woman’s face and hands.

The woman was then allegedly assaulted with a weapon police believe was a fence paling or picket that could have been discarded nearby.

One neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of his safety, said he came onto the scene immediately after it happened and he sighted the injured woman.

He said the woman was “shocked” after the “heartless” alleged attack.

“They were there for about 60 seconds and it’s frightening to think what they did to her in that time,” he said. “When I came out and saw her she was in shock.

“She wasn’t crying or anything; it’s like she was trying to figure out what happened to her.

“It’s sad. She’s this little, old, frail woman. She has quite a confrontational personality to her though. She always actively defends her own.”

The Advertiser understands the alleged attackers live on an adjoining street to the woman.

Police are investigating if the Mitchell Park alleged assault is linked to an incident at a Marion service station a short time earlier in the night.

Officers were called to the OTR just before 2am after reports of four people being allegedly assaulted by two suspects.

Two of the victims, an 18-year-old and a 24-year-old man, were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The 17-year-old boy from Whyalla has been charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and aggravated assault causing harm in relation to the Mitchell Park incident, and aggravated assault from the incident at Marion.

He is expected to be refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police urge anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Originally published as Two alleged assaults in the southern suburbs at Mitchell Park and Marion could be linked as police investigate service station and home incidents