(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kelowna woman is in jail after confronting a 79-year-old mother and her two adult children, using the mother’s own cane to hit her children while trying to steal their car.

The incident happened at about 2:40 p.m. yesterday, Sept. 26, in the 200 block of Rutland Road South, according to a Kelowna RCMP news release.

The attacker approached the car in a parking lot as the female driver was getting out. The attacker kneed the driver in the torso, grabbed the car keys and tried to get into the driver’s seat.

When the driver’s brother and 79-year-old mother got out of the vehicle the suspect told them, “I have a knife and I’ll stab you,” the news release said.

Still, they were able to chase her away briefly but she returned moments later and tried, again, to get into the driver’s seat.

“This time, the suspect grabbed the complainant’s mother’s cane from her hand and struck the complainant’s brother twice,” the news release says. “The suspect also struck the complainant with the cane before attempting to punch the complainant’s brother.”

Police were called and the attacker fled, only to be quickly located inside a business in the 200 block of Gray Road, where she was arrested.

She is charged with robbery, assault and uttering threats and is being held in custody awaiting a  court appearance today.

“This unprovoked attack on an innocent family again demonstrates our need for more supports for those with complex issues and dealing with their mental health and substance use issues,” Const. Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer with the Kelowna RCMP, said in the release. “We are all extremely grateful no one was severely injured in this shocking incident.”

Anyone with information on the attack who has not yet to spoken to the police is asked to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference police file number 2022-61045.

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