Anyone, that is except 88-year-old Bessie Garratty of Bomaderry.

It was 4.30 on Saturday morning when the brave woman heard a noise out the back of her Barwon Street home.

“I wasn’t asleep. I had the radio on and it was very loud as I didn’t have my hearing aid on, but I heard a noise out the back and I saw a flash in my bedroom,” Mrs Garratty said.

“I looked in the room, but I couldn’t see anyone, so I went out the back and saw the window was open.

“As I came back he came out of the bedroom and pulled the linen cupboard open.

“I wasn’t frightened, I was cranky.

“I punched him and said, ‘Get out of my house’.

“He wasn’t dangerous, he just wanted money.

“I went to the phone in the hall and dialled 000, but he grabbed it and threw it to the floor.

“He knocked me down and told me to stay there.

“Normally it’s difficult for me to get up,” said Mrs Garratty who gets around with the aid of a walker.

“But I got up quickly and I remembered my VitalCall.”

Mrs Garratty pressed her personal alarm and a loud blast sounded.

“He was throwing things out of drawers and I opened the front door and said, ‘Get out!’

“But he went out the way he came in.”

Although Mrs Garratty acted very bravely, she was injured during the home invasion.

On Saturday morning Ambulance paramedics treated her for minor grazes to her right leg. She was having the dressings replaced on Monday morning when the South Coast Register spoke to her.

“I think it’s all catching up with me a bit,” said Mrs Garratty.

“I’m alright but I’m all bruised and have a cut and my neck is jarred.”

Shoalhaven Police have encouraged Mrs Garratty to share her story in the hope it may help catch the intruder.

They are looking for a large build Caucasian man who was wearing dark clothing and a black balaclava at the time.

Thanks to Mrs Garratty’s bravery he left the house empty-handed.

“He didn’t take a thing, he was only looking for money.”

The only thing she is missing is a nightdress which the police took away to test for DNA.

Mrs Garratty acknowledged crime is a problem without a solution. She said two of her neighbours were broken into recently, but she doesn’t let it rule her life.

“I’ve never been frightened, and I’m still not frightened.”

Just last month, Bessie was featured in the South Coast Register, when she was honoured for her 30 years of service to Anglicare.

Mrs Garratty began her volunteer work in 1969 and told the Register she had enjoyed being able to give back to her community. 

Shoalhaven police have called on the community to help with investigating a number of aggravated break-ins in the region including three in three nights in Nowra and Bomaderry.

A police team has been formed to investigate the break-ins and patrols of the areas where the offences occurred have been stepped up.

Inspector Steve Johnson said police had not ruled out a link between the break-ins.

“We will be chasing all the rabbits down the holes to find who is responsible,” he said.

“From time to time we have spikes in crime and this can be for various reasons. It might be a new crook is in town.

“We review local crime on a daily basis to ensure we have the right police in the right places at the right times.”

The importance of information from the community cannot be overstated in relation to helping police solve crimes.

Inspector Johnson encouraged people to phone the police if they thought they had any information relating to the recent break-ins.

“Police are committed to keeping the community safe, but we need public co-operation to help us solve these offences,” he said.

“Someone in the community must know who is responsible for these break and enters.

“That small amount of information could be the final piece of the puzzle we need to apprehend the offender.”

He said a lot of crime was solved using information passed on by the public.

Last year’s bashing of Francois Beugels in North Nowra was an example where community information played a pivotal role in helping police apprehend the offenders.

While Mr Beugels continues to live with the psychological impact of that horrific attack, he was aware and thankful of the community’s efforts to help police.

“I couldn’t remember much about it [the attack] whatsoever,” Mr Beugels said.

“First of all someone got a glimpse of the getaway car, and someone had part of the number plate.”

Mr Beugels said police used that information to find who the car was registered to.

“The reaction to my case was absolutely fantastic. It certainly boosts moral.

“Mind you it doesn’t help too much with the fear I’m left with.

“Even now I’m very wary with strange noises and things like that.

“Before I even think about it my heart starts pumping,” Mr Beugels said.

Inspector Johnson encouraged the community to look out for their neighbours and be aware of what is happening around your home.

Information can be passed on to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Nowra Police station on 44 219 699. If a crime is taking place phone Triple 0.

- ADAM WRIGHT

southcoastregister.com.au