Elderly woman injured while trying to retrieve handbag from thieves

TOM DILLANE

An elderly handbag was injured while trying to retrieve her stolen handbag from three thieves on Auckland’s North Shore.

The woman’s handbag was stolen in Kitchener Rd, Milford, about 1pm on Thursday.

Police said the woman, in her 70s, was walking from Wairau Valley to Milford when she noticed three people following her.

“She was then approached by a person who has taken her handbag and has followed the offender to where there was a car waiting with two other people inside,” police said in a statement.

“She attempted to reach into the car to retrieve her handbag and has received minor injuries as a result.

“The vehicle has then left the scene.”

Takapuna resident Sandra Allen said she saw the elderly woman in the parking lot of Milford Centre mall being attended to by police following the incident.

“I asked the lady was she OK and she said she’d had the most tremendous fright, which was understandable,” Allen said.

Police said they were investigating and following strong lines of inquiry.

– Stuff