LORAIN — An elderly Lorain man was beaten and robbed Tuesday night after returning home from his 70th birthday party.

Gerald Boone was attempting to unpack presents from  his car about 8:50 p.m. in the driveway of his West 28th Street home when he was tackled at “full speed” to the ground by a man who began hitting him, according to a Lorain police report.

The thief dug into Boone’s front pockets for his wallet and yelled at him to “gimme it,” while another man approached his 68-year-old wife, Betty Boone, who was still seated in the driver’s seat of the car, and demanded her purse.

Betty Boone later told police that she glanced around for her purse in the back seat and could see the other man beating her husband on the ground. The thief demanding her purse opened the vehicle’s rear door and grabbed the purse before both men ran away.

The couple was visibly shaken by the incident, according to the report, and cried while telling police the details.

Lorain police Sgt. Mark Carpentiere said he didn’t suspect the Boones were targeted for their age.

“They were taken by surprise and ambushed,” he said. “But these guys may have been breaking in or about to break into the residence when (the Boones) pulled in the driveway.”

Boone and his wife told police they didn’t get a good look at the suspects, and they were too upset to recount much other than seeing one wearing a red shirt or jacket, and the other wearing a hat.

Gerald Boone sustained minor injuries to his hand and hip when he was tackled but declined medical treatment. Police observed one of his pants pockets had been ripped off during the attack. Betty Boone wasn’t injured, but about $100 in cash, credit cards and bank account information were in her stolen purse.

Carpentiere said there are no leads, but police continue to investigate.

The Boones could not be reached for comment.

Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.

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