Wairoa Police said the incident happened at 2.25am on Wednesday last week. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A man accused of breaking into an elderly man's home and stealing two phones - one of them a landline - has been arrested.
Wairoa Police said the incident happened at 2.25am on Wednesday last week on Brian Avenue.
"An unknown offender broke into the address and assaulted the elderly occupant," Detective Sergeant Sam Park said.
"The offender left the address with a cell phone and a portable landline phone."
The 79-year-old occupant was "left with serious injuries and only released from hospital" on Monday, but was expected to make a full recovery.
A 28-year-old man has been charged with aggravated burglary, and was due to appear in Gisborne District Court on Tuesday.
"Police take this offending very seriously and would like to thank the community for their support and assistance in providing information that helped lead to this arrest," Park said.