91-year-old Aussie's act of bravery stuns everyone: 'I was just running after him'

In an inspiring act of bravery, a 91-year-old great-grandmother proved that age is no barrier to standing one's ground.

Joanna 'Jopie' De Loryn, known for her resilient spirit, confronted an unexpected intruder in what could have been a daunting situation.

Her quick thinking and determination made the encounter a remarkable testament to courage, leaving those who know her in awe.


The incident unfolded as Jopie was performing a routine task, taking out the rubbish at her home, when she came face-to-face with a would-be thief.

The intruder, caught in the act of robbing her, was likely not expecting the formidable resistance he was about to encounter.

Jopie's instincts kicked in, and she managed to reclaim her handbag from the intruder's grasp.


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A hooded intruder was bravely confronted by 91-year-old great-grandmother Joanna 'Jopie' De Loryn at her Brisbane home. Credit: 9News / YouTube


But she didn't stop there. With a determination that would startle many, she gave chase as the young man fled her home.

'I don't know what I was going to do with him because it was a young lad,' she said.

'But I thought if I got him, I had my handbag, so I thought I'd even hit him over the head with it.'


Her bravery was echoed by her neighbours, who joined in the pursuit.

Unfortunately, the intruder proved too swift, likely aided by a getaway vehicle.

Jopie's spirited chase was captured on video, showcasing her tenacity as she ran out of her house shouting, 'You bastard, hey'.

'I was just running after him, and I thought, well, I don't know what to do,' she added.

'There's my engagement ring. My anniversary ring, a beautiful watch my husband bought me and all the little bits and pieces,'

'So it's all gone. It's all gone. I took it out of the box and took everything out.'


The intruder also stole a silver plate, a memento from her son in memory of her late husband, which Jopie fears may be discarded without a second thought.
'They probably toss it in the creek,' she said, a thought that added insult to the injury of the invasion and theft.

The police are investigating the incident, but Jopie's story has resonated with many.

Her actions raise an important question for all of us, especially those in the senior community: what can we do to protect ourselves and our homes from intruders?

While not everyone may have the same reflexes or physical ability to confront an intruder as Jopie did, there are steps we can all take to enhance our home security.

Installing security systems, ensuring doors and windows are secure, and keeping valuables out of sight are just a few measures that can deter potential burglars.


It's also wise to have a plan in place in case of an intrusion, whether that means having a phone within reach to call for help or a safe room to retreat to.

Her experience is a call to action for all of us to consider our home security and personal safety strategies.


Credit: YouTube

Key Takeaways

  • A 91-year-old great-grandmother, Joanna 'Jopie' De Loryn, bravely confronted a hooded intruder at her Brisbane home.
  • Despite the intruder's quick escape, De Loryn managed to snatch back her handbag and even attempted to chase him down.
  • The thief stole several priceless items, including her late husband's watch, engagement, and anniversary rings.
  • The police are currently investigating the home invasion incident.
Have you ever had to deal with an intruder, and how did you handle the situation? Let us know in the comments below. Your stories and advice could help fellow members stay safe and secure in their homes.
 
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Very brave, but she could have been badly hurt. He must have got a fright when she fought back and hadn't planned for that. clearly didn't want to hurt her or he would have so doesn't deserve horse whipping and the like.
 
A very brave lady. I saw this story on the news yesterday and thought , I hope the low life see this and take back what he stole from this poor woman.

I'm so glad she wasn't physically hurt during this ordeal
Very brave indeed just a pity she didn't have a stick then she could have whacked him over the head
 
Very brave effort for a lady of her age....so glad she was unhurt and I hope that the police find the lowlife and her precious belongings that he stole. There is far too much of this sort of thing these days and Magistrates need to be far tougher on these scumbags when they front court.
 
She would have been tasered, resulting in death some days later.

Ala Kristian White style....
I was having a discussion the other night with my kids about how if someone broke in our house and one of us harmed the intruder we would be charged. I then went on to say if we killed the intruder protecting our family then goid chance we would go to jail.
My son replied if we were broken into and he needed to protect us then so be it.

There has been a few home invasions and attempted break ins while people were sleeping in our area and surrounding areas
 
I was having a discussion the other night with my kids about how if someone broke in our house and one of us harmed the intruder we would be charged. I then went on to say if we killed the intruder protecting our family then goid chance we would go to jail.
My son replied if we were broken into and he needed to protect us then so be it.

There has been a few home invasions and attempted break ins while people were sleeping in our area and surrounding areasSA
I remember years ago my mother being on jury duty with a case of an intruder entering a hotel over on the SA gulf section with intent of robbery. The manager happened to be in the bar after hours when the intruder entered. The manager was held at gunpoint, but during the discussion the manager asked the intruder if he could go to the back into the toilet. Instead what the intruder didn't know was that the manager went back into his office then through the closed door he fired his rifle in the direction of the intruder and wounding him. In the court case the managers lawyer was able to get the manager off as his lawyer pushed that the manager was protecting his family. I won't say what race the intruder was, but he wasn't Caucasian.
 
I remember years ago my mother being on jury duty with a case of an intruder entering a hotel over on the SA gulf section with intent of robbery. The manager happened to be in the bar after hours when the intruder entered. The manager was held at gunpoint, but during the discussion the manager asked the intruder if he could go to the back into the toilet. Instead what the intruder didn't know was that the manager went back into his office then through the closed door he fired his rifle in the direction of the intruder and wounding him. In the court case the managers lawyer was able to get the manager off as his lawyer pushed that the manager was protecting his family. I won't say what race the intruder was, but he wasn't Caucasian.
I remember a case in Sydney maybe 10 years ago where someone broke into a families home. The intruder threatened the family and the father managed to tackle the intruder and the intruder died. I can't remember how, only that the father did it by protecting his family.
He was charged with murder , then lessened to involuntery manslaughter .
The case I know went on for ages. I think he ended up serving 5 years in jail.

The intruder was armed with a gun
 
I remember a case in Sydney maybe 10 years ago where someone broke into a families home. The intruder threatened the family and the father managed to tackle the intruder and the intruder died. I can't remember how, only that the father did it by protecting his family.
He was charged with murder , then lessened to involuntery manslaughter .
The case I know went on for ages. I think he ended up serving 5 years in jail.

The intruder was armed with a gun
Very similar to the SA case and I think the hotel manager was also going to be charged with involuntary Manslaughter, but luckily his lawyer got him off as he had 5 children and his wife to protect.
 
When I was in my mid twenties, Mum and Dad had an intruder break in one night but didn't steal a thing. But he or she left their calling card and left the front door wide open.

A great steaming turd in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Luckily, I had left home by then, otherwise the intruder would have left with a generous application of brown makeup!
 
Very similar to the SA case and I think the hotel manager was also going to be charged with involuntary Manslaughter, but luckily his lawyer got him off as he had 5 children and his wife to protect.
Very similar to the SA case and I think the hotel manager was also going to be charged with involuntary Manslaughter, but luckily his lawyer got him off as he had 5 children and his wife to protect.
So many cases similar .
 
A man has been found not guilty of murdering a burglar and convicted rapist he found inside his Newcastle home.

On Wednesday a Newcastle supreme court jury accepted Benjamin Batterham’s claim that he was making a citizen’s arrest in March 2016 when he chased Ricky Slater, tackled him, put him in a chokehold and repeatedly punched him in the head until police arrived.

The jury found Batterham, 35, who spent two months in prison after his arrest before being granted bail, not guilty of murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Slater – who had scarring to his heart because of regular drug use, suffered liver disease and was obese – suffered a cardiac arrest after the attack but was revived by paramedics.

He had another two cardiac arrests in hospital and died the next day.

Throughout the trail the defence insisted that Batterham, an apprentice chef, had not intended to kill Slater or cause him serious harm.

Batterham smiled and nodded to the jury when the verdict was handed down. It had been deliberating since 1pm on Tuesday after a two-week trial.

Slater’s mother, Beryl Dickson, walked out of the courtroom immediately after the verdict.

The defence barrister, Winston Terracini SC, had argued Batterham had every legal right to do what he did and there was no proof his actions had caused Slater’s death.

The only reason Batterham had chased and tackled Slater was because “the deceased man wanted to be a thief”, Terracini said, and had tried to run from Batterham to escape justice.

At one stage during the eight-minute struggle, Slater bit Batterham on the hand, making the chef even more determined to hold him down until he could be arrested.

The crown prosecutor, Wayne Creasey SC, said Batterham was within his rights to chase and detain Slater but he went too far.

Creasey said Batterham was in a frenzy when threatening to kill Slater and ignored pleas from neighbours to release the burglar who was crying out that he could not breathe.

He said that if the jury did not find Batterham guilty of murder, he should be convicted of manslaughter because his actions had been dangerous and unlawful.

Medical experts called to give evidence during the two-week trial had differing opinions on what caused Slater’s death.

A clinical toxicologist, Dr Naren Gunja, told the jury he believed Slater, high on ice, had died of asphyxiation from being strangled.

But a forensic toxicologist and pharmacologist, Dr Michael Kennedy, disagreed, and said Slater suffered a heart attack due to the high level of methylamphetamine in his system and his existing heart condition.

Batterham was at home in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton drinking with a friend when he saw Slater at the entrance to his seven-month-old daughter’s bedroom at 3.20am on 26 March 2016. Slater was carrying a shoulder bag containing three knives, cannabis and ice. Batterham’s partner and baby were not home.

The jury was not told during the trial about Slater’s lengthy criminal history, including his imprisonment for at least four years in 2009 for raping a teenage girl in south Tamworth.

The 16-year-old girl had been expecting her former boyfriend to visit when she answered a knock at the door to find Slater standing there pantless on 6 June 2007. Slater pushed his way into the house and raped the girl, telling her he would stab her if she did not keep quiet.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual intercourse without consent and was jailed for six years, with a minimum of four years
 
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