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Mark Hayward / Union Leader
Candace Neal told Manchester, N.H., police she used her walker to fend off an armed man who burst into her apartment.
A 50-year-old New Hampshire woman who once worked as a deputy sheriff and a corrections officer hit a robber with her walker when he broke into her home on Sunday, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.
Candace Neal told the Union Leader she needs the walker to get around because she became disabled about a year ago due to back problems. About two weeks ago, she said she also had surgery for a diabetes-related infection in her right foot.
A masked intruder armed with a knife burst into Neal's home Sunday afternoon, charging at her and a friend who was visiting, she said.
"I mean, I just looked up, and here was this guy running at us," Neal told WMUR.com in New Hampshire.
"My girlfriend tried to get in the middle of him and I and he punched her and threw her away, you know? Then I fell back on the bed and held my walker up and then I started hitting him with it, particularly trying to hit the knife," she added.
The robber got away with Neal's purse, which she thought she had managed to kick under the bed and hide, the Union Leader reported. The bag contained Neal's ID, $200 in cash and a month's worth of Oxycodone, methadone, muscle relaxants and the anti-stress medication. The powerful painkillers had been prescribed to Neal following her foot surgery.
"I'm quite sure that that's what they were after, was my prescriptions," she told WMUR.
Police are searching for the suspect, who is described as a white male in his 30s, about 6 feet tall with an athletic build. He was last seen wearing tan pants and a navy blue zip-up hoodie sweatshirt. A blue bandanna was covering his face during the break-in.
“I was almost helpless. If I didn't have the walker, I'd have nothing,” she told the Union Leader. “I was just trying to defend myself and my stuff.”
Neal, who told the Union Leader she has worked a variety of jobs, including deli worker, deputy sheriff and a corrections officer, said she would be moving out.
"This neighborhood is declining," she told WMUR.
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Leave a Comment:
some pillhead knew her and her situation.good for her for defending herself.hopefully they find this turd.
What NO GUN? and she survived?? How crazy......
I would agree this guy knew about her situation.
Is this bungled by the writer or what?
Rontron- I agree. I had to read that sentence three times to figure out it was just more poor writing.
When walkers are made illegal, only criminals will have walkers.
NStiz / Rontron - I am willing to bet the writer used an exact quote. Being from the Ma / NH area, I am very familiar with lingo. "You know?" finishes off just about every sentence whether it was a question or if it was a statement of fact, you know? And the other misplaced favorite phrase is "I mean"..... I mean, how was your coffee today? I mean, i mean.... It's embarrassing to hear people speak around heeyah....
So when they catch and convict this guy, how much crap will he have to put up with in prison for being fought off by a 50-year-old woman with a walker? I hope a lot.
Someone should make him their bitch.
No, I don't think it's a misprint. The girlfriend decided to go on the defensive, getting between Neal and the thug -- and the thug punched her and "threw her away". It was just very poorly stated.
Aw c'mon now. Everyone knows that the best way to kill a walker is shoot them in the head. OH, WRONG TYPE OF WALKER!! Never mind.
I'm just glad she's okay, I mean this could have ended much worse considering he came at her with a knife. It was obvious he had every intention on killing to get what he wanted.
I also believe this guy knew her situation and that she had drugs. He didn't restrain the friend, just hitting her had tossing her aside which means to me he knows both of them, Probably why he didn't carry a weapon himself, since he most likely knew she didn't have a weapon and he probably didn't want to hurt them, just snag the pills. OH and by weapon I mean a gun. He could easily have used the knife on the friend if he meant them harm.
Why are you insulting the turds ?
This guy is a pint of 3 week old asswater in an old mayonaise jar with an egg and a pickle in it.
So who needs the NRA. This walker toting senior had no concealed "carry" and did just fine!
kam, ur gonna open a can o worms with that one.
LOL, if she had a concealed carry they probably wouldn't still be looking for him.
You know,as long as Neal keeps her independent determination and refuses to be a victim, she will always be considered "armed and dangerous" for any intruder who dares enter her home.Her weapons of choice will depend on what room she just happens to be in at the time. Take the kitchen for example, where an iron frying pan or rolling pin would have found the intruder's head. Never underestimate what a pissed off woman will do to protect her nest and loved ones in it.
Windancersong, Majority of mothers do protect their young.
Lucky for me, if I don't get you, if come noseying here, my neighbors will. Their names are Mr. Winchester, Mr. Browning, the step brothers Smith and Wesson, and then there is good old Mrs. Ruger. I have the dog.
Note to robber: Consider a new career.
Kamaaina, you've almost made the point for the NRA. There are no 'dangerous weapons', but there are dangerous people.
That's a misquote from one of my favorite authors, Robert A. Heinlein, who actually wrote, many years ago, "There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men." I think he included the ladies in his definition - if you read his works, you can see he was not averse to the thought that a woman was the equal to a man.
This woman is a dangerous person - Hurrah! Without the proper attitude, even someone carrying a .45 auto is not dangerous, while with the proper attitude someone with a walker becomes something other than a victim.
Kamaaina, I don't know anyone who would opt for a walker over a gun to fight off a knife wielding drug addict, if they had the choice. Are you really implying this shows guns aren't needed for self defense?
If she had been armed with a gun, the armed thief would have probably ran away at the sight of it. Or if he didn't, she could have shot him and would not have gone through the ordeal of laying on her back on the bed and fighting this guy off who was trying to slash or stab her, and he wouldn't have made off with her purse and all of the drugs.
Best comment yet Denver Bill. Good one.
Last year I lived about 100 yards from this woman. The neighborhood was so sketchy I moved to Lowell, MA to get away from it. Yea, after many years of living in and around Manchester NH I feel safer in Lowell MA, who'd have thought.
I've lived in southern MA my whole life, and knowing how Lowell is, that's a pretty sad statement when Lowell is safer than Manchester!! But I completely understand your point.
want a bad neighborhood, try FallRiver... There are always gonna be bad neighorhoods.
People don't hurt people, people who don't know how to handle their walkers hurt people! Brought to you by the NWA.
Candace, my Love, Thee Ox Salutes you from the bottom of my heart! You are indeed my hero. Great work. People as yerself who refuse to take anyone's crap gives Thee goosies.
Here's to Ya!
Yer Pal Always,
Thee
Thee, great avitar!
Why, thanks too much, MileHigh. Sent ya a friend invite. Be honored to have ya as one.
Yer Pal Always,
Thee
Apparently according to the title, Michonne from the Walking Dead has gone north.
Definitely a chuckle for TWD fans.
I was thinking "Walker Colt", and a paraphrased quote from "Dancing With Wolves" Shoot the damn thing, don't hit him with it! :-D
with her pension she should have moved a long time ago....
Good for her!!
Rontron, that was a quote from the victim, not writing by the reporter. That is what the quote marks mean, and that she said "him and I", not between the victim and the suspect.
I would think that the suspect's description should include a lot of bruises....... I sure hope so.
Oh well, at least he has a lot of painkillers to ease his pain.
maybe he has tennis ball marks from the bottom of the walker
Walker....N.H. Ranger!
You go girl!! Hurrray!
grandma kicked your ass!!! grandma kicked your ass! now if you had grown up in my family THIS would NOT suprise you.....and you wouldnt have tried to get in her house either!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL
Who you calling grandma? LOL! I am 52 and don't consider my self elderly just yet.
Know exactly what you mean about growing up in certain families. I am an only grand-daughter out of 9 grands. All my cousins were bigger than me and most of them played sports in school. Talk about make a girl tough.
Way to go little lady. There are not many things in a room that can't hurt a person if used correctly.
Doctors prescribe methadone for pain management now? So she had methadone, percocet, muscle relaxants and xanax. A drug addict's dream team.
aeduko, I thought the same thing. When I had surgery on my wrist twice I was only prescribed one med for pain and then it was no refills.
With the meth scrip, I think there is more to this story then they are saying. Not unusual.
My first thought as well. Methadone? Bet she knew her assailant.
Yes, they do prescribe methadone for chronic pain managment. Try looking it up and making informed, intelligent posts instead making assumptions based on what you don't know.
I would expect . In her minds eye . She was picturing where she would be shooting him , if she had a gun in her hand . To bad she didn't have a gun handy and shoot the punk .
I have prescriptions and I do not keep them in my purse. Also that was alot of prescriptions for surgery. I still wouldn't had kept my meds in my purse nor would I've kept that much cash in there. Come to think of it, I haven't used cash in so long, that I am not sure what it looks like. It is like a cellphone. Don't need it either one with me, I am content. Yep! I can drive down the road with me and the radio listening to all those good ole classical rock. I don't even have to worry about anyone calling me or texting me.
Benjoh...ditto that!
If the pain management system in New Hampshire is the same as in Texas this woman is screwed until it's time to refill her meds. My doctors have told me time and time again that they will not replace medications even if they are stolen, accidentally dropped in the toilet, whatever. You are just SOL and in pain until it's time for another refill. I guard my pain meds like gold so that I don't lose a single pill because of this stingy system. They treat every patient as a drug addict and you have to prove yourself otherwise.
Glad that Ms. Neal had her walker to fend off that creep. I know how that guy feels getting hit with the walker. When I'm not listening to my wife and I get close her she'll try to trip me with her cane or walker. It's kind of funny how she does too.I'm waiting for her to hide a recorder and put it on You Tube.
I find it a bit unusual that she had all of the meds in her purse instead of in a medicine cabinet or kitchen cabinet. If she carried all of those meds with her, she was a prime target - sort of like one stop shopping.
So it's her own fault? Maybe she is out of the house a lot and it's just easier to carry them with her. You know, if she'd just put a few pills in a to-go container, and was pulled over by the cops for some reason, that could present a problem.
Obviously, someone had knowledge that she had painkillers, and knew where she lived. They also knew she kept them in her purse. If they knew she kept them in a cabinet at home, they would have gone for the cabinet - or maybe would have broken in when she wasn't home.
WinWin4All, I think you asked and answered your own question about my post. You asked me if it was her fault, then went on to say pretty much what I said about keeping them all in her purse.
No, I'm saying she was in a no-win situation, as long as some druggie knew she had what he wanted. If the guy wanted them, he was going to go get them. If he thought they were in a cabinet, he would have gone for the cabinet instead of her purse. With her using a walker, I'm sure he didn't care if she was home or not - she looked like easy prey. I'm glad he was wrong.
what the heck! what doctor would give her that kind of meds for her foot? i bet there is way more to this story that we will never get to know. i broke my back in a couple places & still work (40 years old) and was NEVER given that much meds!! sounds to me like not only does she have a habbit for pills but also sells them and this customer did not have any money this time.
What? That's impossible! It has been scientifically proven by the media and the NRA that the ONLY possible defense against intruders is shooting them dead... I'm so confused now...
No. Peter: it is not the only defense, it is just the best one.
walkers can be some pretty mean weapons (computer spelled this)!!..hmm!, so watch out next time granny might beat ya` ta` death with it LOLOL!!!!!
Hmm....I think we should ban walkers! Also, why is it okay to call a black man "ethnic" but and not a white man "caucasion?" And, further more, not all black people or their ancestors are from Africa so the term African American is politically incorrect. Also, if you really want to be politically correct, you should find out everyone's background before writing any article describing anyone. You may call me a Caucasion Greek American. Thank you very much!
Greekgirl~ "Caucasian".
Yes, my dad is "Caucasion" and my mom is Greek. There you go. I wonder if Charlize Theron is considered an African American?
Wow! I'm going to go buy a walker so I can defend myself against these criminals. I'll tuck it into my custom holster and hopefully nobody will notice. Maybe I can use it against another masked maniac shooting up the town square. Maybe I will get lucky and be the target of a less determined criminal like this fortunate woman faced. Not! I'll stick to my FRANCHI SPAS-12 SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN!
After being knocked down to bad that woman couldn't have gotten up with a gun in her hand. If nothing else shoot him in the ass on the way out the door.
I have a chronic pain condition that requires monthly visits to a pain management clinic, but no one (other than my family) knows that I have pain pills at home. And why keep all of her medications in her purse? I keep mine in the bathroom. Maybe a the day's worth, or something, in your purse would be reasonable.
Me thinks I smells a fish.