It is hardly surprising that elderly people living in the Otley Road area of Bradford are anxious and angry. They claim that at least 14 women in their 70s and 80s have been robbed in the last few weeks. The police are investigating only five incidents, but residents claim that other pensioners who have been attacked have been too afraid to report it.

Whether the figure is five or 14 or any number in between, it seems clear that the presence of four homes for the elderly and sheltered housing complexes in the area is being seen by young criminals as presenting them with easy targets. And as the case of 90-year-old Rose Gallagher demonstrated, these thugs don't seem to care how much violence they use.

The people who live in these homes and complexes, as well as other elderly residents in their own homes, must feel beleaguered and be wondering who will be next. The strength of feeling can be gauged by the 3,000 signatories to a petition demanding action from the police.

That surely is not too much to ask. It is the duty of any society which calls itself civilised to look after its elderly. If there are criminals who choose to behave despicably towards them instead, they need to be stopped.

If the confidence of the elderly residents of the Otley Road area is to be restored, there needs to be a period of high-profile policing to show the young louts that society will not tolerate that sort of behaviour.