A woman standing outside Whangarei Hospital's maternity ward managed to fight off an attacker but was unable to stop him running off with her handbag.
The early morning attack happened while the woman was smoking a cigarette on Hospital Rd outside the ward just after midnight on Sunday.
Whangarei police Detective Aaron Crawford said a man on a push scooter went past but quickly returned to the woman and tried to drag her away. The woman fought back and was able to free herself but he stole her bag. She suffered bruising and scratches as a result.
Officers found a scooter and items from the woman's bag in Cheviot St about 3.50am on Sunday.
Mr Crawford believed the push scooter was stolen and urged anyone who could identify the one pictured to contact police.