[Injured elderly victims of bag-snatching treated at Odense University Hospital 1996-2000]

In recent years, a number of elderly patients have been treated at the Odense University Hospital following injuries caused by bag-snatching. The aim of this study was to discover how many of elderly patients sustained such injuries.

The study comprised all inhabitants in the Odense Municipality aged 60 years or more treated at Odense University Hospital in 1996-2000 for injuries caused by bag-snatching.

We registered 95 patients. The annual number rose significantly from 1996 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2000 it declined. The mean age was 78 years and 95% were women. Most of the injuries occurred during the daytime. Many patients were injured, because of falls as the bag-snatcher grabbed the bag and got away (74%). Fewer patients were beaten or kicked (26%). The patients were generally pedestrians (86%), and the bag-snatchers mostly pedestrians (47%) or cyclists (29%). The injuries were commonly contusions/sprains (45%) and fractures/dislocations (37%). Twenty-seven per cent were admitted to hospital with a median stay of 15 days (1-54 days). One patient died as a result of the injury. Most patients sustained minor injuries (Maxsimal abbreviated injury scale-score = 1) (62%).

Over a period of years we have observed an increasing number of injuries in the elderly caused by bagsnatching. The victims often fell and fractured or dislocated a limb. More than a quarter of the victims were hospitalised.