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Hard-Of-Hearing Woman Allegedly Used A Sign During Robbery Of Elderly Woman

DENVER (CBS4) - A woman from Aurora is accused of robbing elderly women across the Front Range with a variety of different methods.

Cathy Ann Begano, 58, remains in custody. Investigators believe she targeted victims in Denver, Englewood, Pueblo and Colorado Springs, where she was arrested Sunday.

Cathy Ann Begano
Cathy Ann Begano (credit: Colorado Springs police)

The arrest affidavit says the suspect is hard of hearing, and in one case approached a victim at her car holding a sign that said "gun" and "kill." After a brief struggle the victim honked her horn and scared off the suspect.

Jean Schloemer-Enright, 87, said she was pulling into her Colorado Springs garage when she was attacked with spray paint.

Jean Schloemer-Enright
Jean Schloemer-Enright (credit: CBS)

"The spray is hitting my face, and I thought, 'Oh no ... you're not going to do this," Schloemer-Enright said.

Dee Philips, 77, said she was held up inside her garage by Begano.

"Just motions with this gun to my handbag, and I'm thinking, 'No way.' Then out of my mouth came the words, 'No, no, no,' " Philips said.

SPRAY PAINT ROBBERIES map
(credit: CBS)

The arrest affidavit says "stolen credit cards of the victim" have been used in more than 20 stores from Denver to Colorado Springs. Detectives also have store video showing the same suspect and stolen car, who they believe is Begano.

"I'm glad she's off the street. I'm glad she's not out there. Somebody could have really got hurt very, very bad," Philips said.

"I was hopeful that no one else would be harmed," Schloemer-Enright said.

In the Denver case CBS4 learned the elderly victim was hit in the wrist and the head by the suspect.

Begano has an extensive criminal history that's nine pages long. She was in court Tuesday to face the recent charges.

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