Woman, 88, hit from behind by bag snatcher

A bag snatcher has knocked an elderly woman to the ground at the same Auckland shopping centre where good samaritan Lucy Knight was critically beaten intervening in a similar incident.

Police are investigating an attack at the Northcote shops last month, when a man pushed over an 88-year-old woman as he stole her handbag.

It happened at the same set of shops where, in September last year, mother-of-six Knight suffered a fractured skull after being hit in the back of the head by teenager Hendrix Hauwai.

Knight had been trying to help another woman whose bag Hauwai was attempting to steal.

Hauwai was jailed for four years and nine months for the attack on Knight.

‘‘We know all too well from experience in this very area just what can happen during offences like this,’’ Detective Sergeant Todd Bartlett said.

The elderly woman suffered grazes to her knees and elbows.

‘‘Though the victim wasn’t hospitalised, her faith in humanity has been shaken,’’ Bartlett said.

‘‘The elderly are one of our most vulnerable groups and they have the right, like the rest of us, to be safe and feel safe walking to the shops.’’

Police say the incident happened at 2.13pm on Thursday, August 27.

The 88-year-old was assaulted from behind as she walked towards the same Countdown supermarket where Knight was struck.

‘‘She was pushed and fell onto the ground and the offender snatched her handbag,’’ a police statement said.

Police say the offender ran off towards the library.

‘‘A number of police officers flooded the area and the Eagle helicopter was also deployed but the offender wasn’t found, and inquiries to identify and locate him have been ongoing.’’

Pictures of a man matching the description of the alleged offender have been released by police, who hope the public will be able to identify the man.

The alleged offender was wearing a white T-shirt with BRKLYN printed on it in black, and a red or brown hoodie.

‘‘To anyone who knows this person, we say: what if it was your nana?

‘‘There should be zero tolerance for this behaviour in our communities and we appeal to anyone with information to get in touch,’’ Bartlett said.

Though the victim wasn’t hospitalised, her faith in humanity has been shaken. Detective Sergeant Todd Bartlett