Elderly Sydney man ‘scared to go outside’ after punched

An elderly man who was punched and robbed after withdrawing $500 from a Sydney ATM is now too afraid to leave his home. 

The 78-year-old, known only as Jim, was attacked by an opportunistic thug at a Commonwealth ATM in Bankstown Wednesday night, Nine News reports. 

The thief ran towards him before striking him in the face and fleeing the scene with the $500 cash around 10.30pm on Greenfield Parade.

Jim, who suffered a cut to his face, labelled the criminal a ‘coward’ for physically assaulting a man of his age.

‘Of course its cowardly because to do that to an old man like me for $500? I don’t want the money but why (did you) hit me for?,’ he said. 

‘Now I am scared to go outside.’ 

Security footage released by Police identifies a tall man of Asian appearance wearing a black tracksuit and white cap, carrying a white shoulder bag and wheeling a small black suitcase.

CCTV shows an Asian man (pictured) wearing a black tracksuit and white cap, carrying a white shoulder bag and wheeling a small black suitcase

During the ordeal the bandit dropped his phone, which police believe will significantly increase their chance of tracking him down. 

Superintendent Scott Whyte praised Jim for his ‘toughness’, saying it could have been what saved him. 

‘This was a particularly callous attack and if it were not for the fact that Jim is such a tough man, the circumstances could have been much worse,’ he said.

The former weight-lifter had earlier been at the Bankstown Sports Club was understood to be on his way home when he stopped to withdraw the money.  

The thief (pictured) ran towards Jim before striking him in the face and fleeing the scene with the $500 cash around 10.30pm on Greenfield Parade