The Counties Manukau robbery squad is investigating two handbag snatches in Papakura and Manukau supermarket carparks.
They happened within two days and in each case a silver station wagon was involved.
On January 18, an elderly woman loading her car boot was assaulted about 7.10 pm in the Manukau Pack 'N Save underground carpark by a male Maori or Pacific Islander, who also grabbed her handbag.
She refused to let go of it and was dragged until the straps snapped. A witness chased the attacker, who escaped in a silver Nissan station wagon.
The offender was described as 1.78m tall and wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and dark tracksuit pants. The car was described as a late-1980s model.
The witness kicked at the car as it drove off, so it may have a dent in the front passenger door.
The second handbag snatch happened at the Papakura New World and also involved a lone woman victim loading her groceries into the boot of her car.
A male Maori or Pacific Islander wearing a red beanie, red boxer shorts and a grey hooded sweatshirt grabbed the woman's handbag. A silver station wagon was waiting to pick him up.
The Counties Manukau robbery squad (telephone 0800-427-667) would welcome information about the incidents.
* Police have good descriptions of three men who robbed the Edz cafe and lunch bar in East Tamaki on Tuesday.
The robbers, armed with a small handgun, burst into the building in Neilpark Drive about 3 pm.
They forced the cafe owners to lie on the floor and seized cash and cigarettes before fleeing in a stolen Jeep.
The vehicle was abandoned in nearby Andromeda Cres. The robbers, all Pacific Islanders or Maori aged between 16 and 24, then ran to the Pearl Baker Drive area of Otara. If you recognise any of these people (police sketches at right) telephone Detective Steve Nightingale or Detective Steve Brewer at 09-272-0925.
* The R'Toto Pub and Cafe in Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, was robbed by three men on Sunday night.
The duty manager was cashing up around 10.15 when the three broke in through a window, seized the night's takings and escaped through the same window. The manager was not hurt.
It is thought the robbers ran across Killarney St to Manurere St, where they had an escape vehicle.
Call Detective Sergeant Kim Libby at Takapuna police on 09-488-6234 if you have information.
* Huntly police are trying to trace the movements of an Australian killed in a car accident on State Highway 1 on February 1.
Stephen James Widin, of Willoughby, New South Wales, died after his rented Toyota and a van collided near Ohinewai about 4.15 am. Mr Widin had been on holiday and had also been trying to set up business contacts.
Telephone Senior Sergeant Ray Malcolmson (07-828-7560) if you can help.
<i>Crime scene:</i> Handbag snatchers target women in supermarket carparks
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