Video catches thief throwing 87-year-old to the ground in brutal mugging

CCTV has captured the sickening moment an 87-year-old man was attacked and robbed in broad daylight in Brisbane.

In footage obtained exclusively by 7 News, great-grandfather Ray Browne was walking along a ramp at a shopping centre in the Brisbane suburb of Oxley when he was allegedly attacked.

Browne is a former police officer, so he’s no stranger to run-ins with criminals, but told 7 News that on this occasion, he couldn’t protect himself.

In the footage, Browne can be seen walking briskly  with the assistance of a walker, as a man walks behind Browne then stops alongside him to apparently ask him a question. 7 News reported that the man was asking the great-grandad for money.

When Browne told the man he had no money, things quickly turned violent. The man can be seen grabbing for Browne’s pocket in an attempt to steal his wallet. In the process, Browne is knocked repeatedly against a steel rail, before the attacker proceeds to push Browne to the floor. 

Browne can be seen struggling on the concrete ground, while his walker is turned on its side nearby. The man then takes off with Browne’s wallet, leaving his victim unable to get up. Browne was left confused, injured and bleeding.

Speaking exclusively to 7 News, Browne explained that he fought back as hard as he could. “I was trying to kick him to stop him, but I couldn’t reach him and I couldn’t move,” he explained. “I’ve got pieces of skin missing all over the place on here [arms] and all over my back.”

Read more: Hero shopper stops out-of-control addict in Aldi robbery gone wrong

Strangers saw Browne struggling and quickly rushed to his aid. Footage shows a man helping Browne get back on his feet and back to his walker, while others got the number plate of the alleged attacker as he tried to flee the scene. For Browne, he was thankfully people were there to help him, with one woman even offering him $20.

“They’re picking on people who can’t do much to protect themselves,” Browne said of modern attackers.

A 23-year-old man, who has not been named in the 7 News report, has been arrested over the attack and charged with robbery with violence. The man faced court in Richlands on Monday and no bail application was made. 

When the video was shared on Facebook, members of the community were quick to slam the attack. One person wrote: “We need to be very vigilant with our elders in the community. It should just be something we do without being asked at all”.

Another comment read: “Look everyone, that’s our future right there … feeling safe yet?”

A third said: “Gosh at least in the old days there was a bit of ‘honour among thieves’ in that they left the old and disabled alone. Now they’re just spineless cowards taking advantage of the vulnerable”.

What do you think? Do you feel safe shopping in public? How do you protect yourself when you’re out and about?