Post by Banjo on Aug 15, 2011 9:42:10 GMT 7
Pensioner Lance Tyrrell attacked by fake census collectors
THUGS posing as census collectors attacked a celebrity milliner and philanthropist on his front porch during a bungled home invasion.
Lance Tyrrell, who needs the assistance of a walking stick, was kneed in the groin and twice punched in the face after answering a knock at the door at his Greenacre house about 8pm on Saturday.
The 55-year-old said he only unlocked the door because a man flashed a laminated identity card with the words "census collector". "I'm really alarmed because there are many pensioners living alone in my area in Greenacre and I'm worried it could happen again," he said.
Mr Tyrrell designed headwear for the Sydney Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, the film Moulin Rouge and for celebrities such as Boy George, Tina Turner and Elton John.
He was honoured in the 2009 Australian of the Year awards for raising more than $15 million for charity and also by the Roden Cutler charity organisation for his work as a carer.
He beat cancer in 2000 but is now living on a disability pension because of associated health problems.
Mr Tyrrell said he had been watching television and unchained the front door after the man showed him the fraudulent card.
He only realised there were two men standing on his porch when he began to open the screen door.
He saw the man who flashed the census card was wearing a balaclava and a blue baseball cap and the second man had his back turned to the front door.
The balaclava-clad man yanked the front door towards him, causing Mr Tyrrell to pull the main door shut behind him.
"It all happened very quickly," he said.
Mr Tyrrell was kneed in the groin, knocking his walking stick from his hand.
"I doubled over and as I did he punched my left cheek, knocking my glasses off, and then my forehead and I have a big red scratch," he said.
The balaclava-clad man began searching through Mr Tyrrell's pockets for the keys to his front door. He only stopped when the men saw a bright light from the road.
Mr Tyrrell said the two men then ran from his house, leaving him collapsed on the porch.
"I did ask for ID so it just goes to show that even if people do produce ID it may not be genuine," he said.
Mr Tyrrell called police and ambulance and said he was "very shaky" for the rest of the night.
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/pensioner-lance-tyrrell-hurt-in-a-census-less-attack/story-e6freuy9-1226114744897
THUGS posing as census collectors attacked a celebrity milliner and philanthropist on his front porch during a bungled home invasion.
Lance Tyrrell, who needs the assistance of a walking stick, was kneed in the groin and twice punched in the face after answering a knock at the door at his Greenacre house about 8pm on Saturday.
The 55-year-old said he only unlocked the door because a man flashed a laminated identity card with the words "census collector". "I'm really alarmed because there are many pensioners living alone in my area in Greenacre and I'm worried it could happen again," he said.
Mr Tyrrell designed headwear for the Sydney Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, the film Moulin Rouge and for celebrities such as Boy George, Tina Turner and Elton John.
He was honoured in the 2009 Australian of the Year awards for raising more than $15 million for charity and also by the Roden Cutler charity organisation for his work as a carer.
He beat cancer in 2000 but is now living on a disability pension because of associated health problems.
Mr Tyrrell said he had been watching television and unchained the front door after the man showed him the fraudulent card.
He only realised there were two men standing on his porch when he began to open the screen door.
He saw the man who flashed the census card was wearing a balaclava and a blue baseball cap and the second man had his back turned to the front door.
The balaclava-clad man yanked the front door towards him, causing Mr Tyrrell to pull the main door shut behind him.
"It all happened very quickly," he said.
Mr Tyrrell was kneed in the groin, knocking his walking stick from his hand.
"I doubled over and as I did he punched my left cheek, knocking my glasses off, and then my forehead and I have a big red scratch," he said.
The balaclava-clad man began searching through Mr Tyrrell's pockets for the keys to his front door. He only stopped when the men saw a bright light from the road.
Mr Tyrrell said the two men then ran from his house, leaving him collapsed on the porch.
"I did ask for ID so it just goes to show that even if people do produce ID it may not be genuine," he said.
Mr Tyrrell called police and ambulance and said he was "very shaky" for the rest of the night.
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/pensioner-lance-tyrrell-hurt-in-a-census-less-attack/story-e6freuy9-1226114744897