Police thank public after good Samaritan bashing

Police released CCTV images of the bag-snatching suspect near Northcote's Countdown Supermarket. Inset, Lucy Knight.

Police investigating yesterday afternoon's assault on a 43-year-old woman who intervened during a bag snatch are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to contact them.

The victim, Lucy Knight, remains in Auckland Hospital in a stable condition after emergency surgery last night.

Police have received a number of calls following the publication of photos of man thought to be involved and detectives are now working through this information and following several lines of enquiry.

The family of the Asian woman with the hand bag that the offender tried to steal got in touch with police late last night, and she will be spoken to further through an interpreter later today.

A witness that police spoke to late last night has given an account of the offender's movements following the incident.

He is believed to have gotten into a white station wagon with tinted windows.

The vehicle is believed to have been driven by a woman and police would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen a vehicle fitting this description in the Northcote area around 1.40pm.

The investigation has been given the name Operation Vault.

Police would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance to date, including everyone who has shared the photos of the offender.

The post on the Waitemata Police Facebook page has been viewed a record-breaking 120 256 times since it was posted last night and nearly 2000 people have shared it.

This is a prime example of safer communities together and we thank both the media and the public for their assistance so far.