Teens attack woman in Sylvia Park carpark

RANDOM: Teenage girls attacked a retail worker.

A woman was viciously attacked by a group of teenage girls yesterday in the carpark of Auckland's Sylvia Park shopping centre.

The trio approached the woman at about 8.15am and assaulted her before stealing her car.

Two men were with them but did not participate in the assault. Police are appealing for information from the public about the assault and the offenders.

The victim's car has not been located. It is a silver Nissan Cefiro with the licence plate CRY691.

A police spokeswoman said the victim suffered minor injuries.

It was initially thought her injuries were much worse but she was now "doing okay".

She said the attack had traumatised the victim.

A woman in the security office at the mall refused to comment.

Centre manager Jonathan Douglas said he had been notified of the incident.

He confirmed the woman was an employee of Max, a clothing store in Sylvia Park.

"Our thoughts and concerns go out to the victim."

"We are hopeful that through the CCTV footage picked up of the incident and given to the police that the police will quickly find the culprits. This appears a completely random act of violence on an employee of Max and as mentioned our thoughts are with her and her family at this time."

Mr Douglas said security patrols at the mall's carpark areas had been increased.

The Max store manager was obviously upset about the incident. "We don't want to talk about it."

She said the staff member's privacy prevented her commenting.