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Elderly Woman Tied Up During Brockton Home Invasion

BOSTON (CBS) - It started with an act of kindness to a stranger at the front door at noontime on Tuesday. Brockton Police say an 89-year-old woman let a man in his 40's into her Pleasant Street home to use the telephone, and became the victim of a home invasion.

"She's a kind person, if someone needs to use the phone she's going to let them," said neighbor Doug Forrester, Jr.

Police say the man tied her wrists with scarves and her feet with an electrical cord. He then ransacked her home stealing jewelry, say police.

"This is one of the neighborhood moms. I've known her all my life and am very upset this happened," said Doug Forrester, Sr.

Police say incredibly the elderly woman was able to crawl to some side stairs and get herself outside where she screamed for help to some men who were working on a home across the street. They called 911 and police searched the area without success.

"I couldn't imagine being in that predicament, tied up and hurt and badly shaken," said neighbor Karen Simanski, who says she often tries to look out for the woman who walks frequently throughout the neighborhood.

Edith Spector says it was enough for her to make sure her home alarm was on last night, while other neighbors are taking similar precautions. "I think we're more diligent about checking outside around the home, being careful before we get out of the car. It's rattled us," said Forrester, Sr.

Police say it's unclear how long the intruder was inside the home. The victim remains hospitalized.

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