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Nishi Gupta ReportingA 66-year-old woman is recovering after being attacked in her home last night. But that's not all. The attackers stole her car, too.
Her car was found this morning near 3200 South and 300 East in South Salt Lake.
Police also found a pellet gun, but don't know if that was used in this crime. Officers also say a couple of witnesses helped them with this critical information.
We talked with the owner of an apartment complex. He noticed the car and gun and called police. We also talked with another man, who says he saw the car as it was pulling in, and saw the men as they were running away.
Tyson Dukes: "I talked to the police and gave them a police report."
Tyson Dukes, 21, says he was sitting on his balcony last night when he saw several kids and their weird behavior.
Tyson Dukes/ Witness: "One or two of them were already over the fence. The last one, he was working his way over the fence when I yelled. In a couple of seconds they were gone."
Tyson says he didn't get a good look at them, given it was nighttime and they wore dark clothing.
Witnesses tell us they saw three kids get out of a car that was parked, run down the length of the parking lot, jump on the car, hop the fence, and disappear into the night.
Police believe they were running because they attacked Vicki Harker. They say she just returned from a shopping trip. She was in her garage, unloading her groceries.
Sgt. Paul Jaroscak/ Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "We think that it may have just been opportunists that saw the garage door open."
There were three men against one woman.
Sgt. Paul Jaroszak: "They were punching her, kicking her. She escaped the garage and went into the apartment. They also forced their way into the apartment, continued the assault, got keys to the car and drove away."
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
