A gang of violent thugs who beat a pensioner to the ground to get her car keys is being hunted by police.

The chaotic raid – recorded on CCTV – began when the victim arrived home in Capitol Heights, Maryland, USA, and the thugs forced her to the ground to search her.

As they rummaged through her pockets and snatched her bag, the victim screamed for help.

But as they fled, one of the hapless hold-up gang turned her handbag upside down, scattering the contents on the road.

As the woman tried to flee, one of the gang tackled her to the ground before they all fled empty-handed.

Police said the terrified victim suffered two broken bones in the attack.

The police said in a statement on 7th April: “The Prince George’s County Police Department [PGPD] is asking the community for assistance as we actively work to identify and arrest the four suspects who assaulted a senior citizen in an attempt to steal her car. The crime was caught on camera.

“On March 29, 2022, at approximately 6:40 pm, the four suspects approached the victim in her Capitol Heights neighborhood as she arrived home from running errands.

“The victim was pushed to the ground and the suspects demanded her car keys. They searched her pockets and ripped her belongings from her hands. When the suspects got her keys, they began to run away.

“At that time, the victim ran toward a neighbor’s house for help. At this point, one of the fleeing suspects began to chase her and again tackled her to the ground.

“The victim suffered two broken bones during this incident. The suspects ultimately fled the area without taking her car.”

Police chief Malik Aziz said: “The shameless act of violence is very sick and disturbing to me and everyone who has watched the video.

“Our seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and not be violently accosted in our neighborhoods where we live peacefully.

“We need our community’s help in arresting these suspects so that they may be brought to justice and held accountable for their senseless act of violence.

“We are asking the community to look at this video and the pictures of the suspects and call us with information.”

Police added: “In 2022, there have been 132 reported carjackings in the county. Investigators have made 54 arrests – 37 of the arrested are juveniles and 17 are adults. Carjackings are increasing in communities across the country.

“In order to address a rise here in the county, the department established a Carjacking Interdiction Unit last fall. This unit centralizes carjacking investigations. Since then, the carjacking case closure rate has increased from approximately 33% to nearly 50%.”