The 87-year-old man from Mandurah was sleeping in bed when he woke up to intruders searching the rooms of his Dudley Park home at around 2am yesterday.
Investigating, the intruders struck the man on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.
After regaining consciousness, the man called the police for help and was taken to the hospital.
His 23-year-old home was ransacked.
Detective 1st Class Matthew Mackay said police were treating the aggravated robbery “with the utmost seriousness”.
“This is definitely a serious and horrible offense that occurred against an elderly and vulnerable member of our community,” he said.
“We’ve allocated significant resources across the district, in the form of forensic officers. We have multiple units that are doing everything they can to stop these criminals.”
Security cameras caught the criminals looking inside a neighbor’s car and looking through a nearby mailbox before entering the victim’s home.
Neighbors living down the street have told 9News that they are “shocked.”
“Was it on our street? It doesn’t happen here, it’s amazing,” said resident Alison Homsey.
The old man has been described as a “great guy and a dear man”.
“He helps pick up everyone’s paper if they’re not home,” resident Valorie McNamara said.
“He’s a very nice man and he’s very sad.”
Family members remain with the man at the hospital, where he is expected to remain for days.
“He has described himself as being in pain and shock. But he is making a good recovery,” said Detective 1st Class Mackay.
“He is surrounded by supportive family members.”