SENIOR police have labelled the daylight carjacking of an 81-year-old woman as nothing short of "deplorable" and "callous".
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The elderly lady had to be treated by paramedics for shock after she was targeted in Holmes Avenue in Armidale on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, detectives were still hunting the suspect that confronted the woman as she got out of her car to walk her dogs about 1.15pm on Tuesday.
Police said the offender demanded the woman's car - a white Mazda 3 - but allowed her to keep the dogs and her phone.
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He then took off in the car.
"This is callous and deplorable," New England Detective Inspector Roger Best said.
"It's a disturbing event on an elderly lady who has been put through a harrowing event, and she's understandably traumatised."
Paramedics were called to the scene to treat the traumatised woman.
Police swarmed the area in search of the offender and found the car minutes later dumped on Long Swamp Road.
"Police are following every avenue in the investigation to catch this offender," Detective Best said.
"The vehicle was located minutes after on Long Swamp Road so we're appealing for anyone that might have seen that Mazda 3 being driven from the scene in Holmes Avenue, particularly in and around the Erskine Street and Long Swamp Road area."
The offender is described as being of tanned complexion in his mid-teems. He is about 165cm tall, with a slim build.
He was last seen wearing cream shorts, a light shirt with a coloured jumper tied around his neck. He had dark shoes and a hat with writing on it.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Armidale police on 6771 0699.