Gardai believe that a husband was lured out of the house as his elderly wife was attacked in their Co Clare home on Monday.
The 69-year-old woman was tied up for over half-an-hour at her home in Garrynabacurra, Cratloe. Gardai are investigating the fact that the husband had an advertisement in the paper offering a car for sale.
A supposed potential buyer did not show up at a local pub as arranged.
A man ransacked the house, apparently looking for money, but got nothing.