Patrols watch for attacker

More than a dozen Maori wardens are on patrol as police investigate a string of daylight sex attacks in a South Auckland alleyway.

A 14-year-old youth has faced court in relation to the latest attack, but police are not yet linking him to the other incidents.

"You never want to make assumptions," said inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Darrell Harpur.

About 2pm on Tuesday a 29-year-old mother was attacked as she walked home with her groceries through the alley that runs behind Nga Iwi Primary School and through neighbouring streets in Mangere.

Three men nearby heard her screams and caught her attacker.

It was the third attack on females in the same "black spot" of the walkway, one of which was the rape of an 8-year-old girl.

Nga Iwi Primary School is running a supervised "walking bus" for pupils each day when school ends.