The neighbours who helped police catch a man accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman in her South Auckland home exhibited the "highest tradition of what you would expect from a community response".
Police are praising the neighbours' actions after the 77-year-old Papatoetoe woman was assaulted about 6.30am today.
The woman was woken by an unknown man touching her. She activated a St John medical alarm and the man fled.
Police said neighbours saw the man leave the house and thought he was acting suspiciously.
Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said a man was now in custody in relation to the attack and will face charges later today.
"As best as we know at this stage, subject to a fuller interview with the victim, she was at her home, on her own, in bed when she was confronted by this stranger in her home.
"What then took place was a sexually motivated attack. In the course of that activity, she sought to de-escalate the actions of this man by encouraging him to come into another room with her where she was able to activate a medical alarm and then screamed loudly, which attracted the attention of nearby residents.
"The attacker left the address on foot, his exit was seen by neighbours, who took up a pursuit of him at a distance and were able to subsequently direct police to an address within a kilometre or so of where the elderly lady lived."
The man was found and arrested shortly afterwards. He is due to appear in court tomorrow on yet to be determined charges.
It was currently unknown how the man got into the elderly woman's home, Mr Gallagher said.
While she did not suffer any extensive physical injuries in the attack, the emotional impact of the attack was "hugely significant", he said.
Friends and family were supporting her, Mr Gallagher said.
The man arrested in relation to the attack was in his late 30s and was previously known to police.
"He has what may be described as a transient existence with multiple addresses scattered throughout the wider Auckland suburbs as well as down into the Waikato."
The actions of the woman's neighbours were to be "highly commended", Mr Gallagher said.
"Their actions were in the highest tradition of what you would expect from a community response, sadly that's not always the case."
There was nothing to suggest the attack was linked to a brutal home invasion in Pukekohe on Friday night where an elderly couple were assaulted and tied up, he said.
"The elderly in our community is a vulnerable group, just as children are, and they need to be regarded as such.
"Those that have a position to help the elderly need to ensure they do provide that extra support."
