Elderly couple attacked in front yard

FT. WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Instead of respecting the elderly, some lowdown crooks targeted them. It's a shocking story out of Florida. A couple was attacked in their own front yard. The victims are understandably very disturbed.

"Anytime anyone goes out, we're locking the doors," Irene Grout said.

Irene and her husband, Lester Grout, have been living in fear after going through a scary ordeal.

The shattering experience happened when they returned home one evening after getting dinner. As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Irene said she saw two men walking down the street. She said their appearance and actions made her suspicious.

"They were both dressed in black, black shirts, black pants and long black overcoats. When we came up in the yard I had a bad feeling," Irene said.

Irene said when the men walked past the house, her husband got out to move the trash to the curb. That's when the suspects turned back toward the house and hid near a bush.

"He was halfway back in the car when all of a sudden the black guy ran across the yard. I tried to slam my door and lock it. He grabbed my door and the other guy ran around the back of the car and grabbed my husband out of the car. He pointed the gun at me and said, 'Give me your purse.' I said, 'You're not getting my purse.' I turned around to grab my purse and I pushed his hand and he slapped back at me," she explained.

One robber grabbed Irene's purse, while the other suspect struggled with her husband.

"He was hitting me just as I was hitting him," Lester said.

"My husband was hitting at him with his cane. He grabbed the cane away from him and grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down on the other side of the car," Irene added.

Irene said the robbers got away with some valuable items.

"He got my purse with everything in it, my wallet, my pictures of my grandchildren and my checkbook," she said.

The couple was left with bumps, bruises, and a desire to see the crooks put away.

"I hope they get their punishment. It could happen to someone else and they are not that lucky," said Irene.

A security company has installed an alarm system at the victims' home at no cost.