A woman managed to escape a mugger who assaulted her in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Police, hunting the man, said the woman - in her 20s - had suffered a traumatic experience.
She was biking home from the BP petrol station in Taihape at 5.30am when the man tried to rob her.
He walked up to her as she was stopped in Hautapu St, near the intersection with Huia St, and demanded cigarettes in an abusive manner.
She cycled off but he chased her up to Mataroa Rd and grabbed her by the arm. She managed to break free, pedal home and call the police.
Constable Justin Moore of Taihape Police said the woman had described the man as being in his 30s or 40s, of Maori descent, about 2m tall, of stocky build and with black dreadlocks reaching halfway down his back.
He had a distinctive tattoo on the right side of his neck, showing a circle with a blue eyeball inside, and two scars under each of his eyes.
He was wearing black shoes or boots, black pants, a plain green hooded sweatshirt and a red, green and yellow Rastafarian-type hat with Bob Marley on it.
Mr Moore is hoping somebody saw something concerning the incident between 5am-6am. He said it was a traumatic experience for the victim and urged anyone who knew the man to contact police on 06 3882170 or provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.