Attempted car-jacking in Papamoa, woman hurt

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A woman has been injured and robbed after a violent attempted car-jacking in Papamoa.

Tauranga police are now asking for people's help to track down the bloodied offender.

Police say about 2.45pm on New Year's Day the victim, who was driving a silver blue four door motor vehicle on The Gardens Drive, near Domain Road stopped for a woman on the pedestrian crossing.

Head of Western Bay CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said the offender opened the driver's door and attempted to steal the victim's car.

Mr Turner said the offender then assaulted the driver and during the assault a small amount of cash was stolen.

"The driver received minor injuries believed to have been caused by jewellery the offender was wearing," he said.

Mr Turner said the offender was described as a Maori woman in her mid-twenties, of solid to fat build.

She was wearing a dark blue hoodie pulled over her head and white tee shirt, blue shorts and jandals, and had a nose ring in her left nostril, and a bracelet on her left ankle.

"There appeared to be a significant amount of dried blood on the tee shirt and around the this woman's mouth," Mr Turner said.

"I believe that this woman will be known within the community, and the blood on the mouth and tee shirt indicates her potential involvement in another incident early on the same day that appears to be unreported."

Anyone with information about this assault and robbery is urged to immediately contact Tauranga police on 07 577 4300.