Duo rush to help after woman, 80, robbed in city

Whangarei police Sergeant Paul Nicholas said the woman's handbag was found in the toilets of the The Strand Arcade minus some money, cards and a set of car keys.

Two Whangarei friends sprang into action and tried to catch a teenage robber who pushed an 80-year-old woman to the ground from behind and ripped her bag from her grip.

Melena Puru, 34, and her friend Melanie Joyce, 40, both from Hikurangi had just finished their lunch in town and were returning to their car when they saw the bag snatch happen in the Forum North carpark about 1.43pm yesterday.

Ms Puru began yelling trying to alert others in the carpark then went to the aid of the elderly woman while Ms Joyce and another woman pursued the fleeing mugger.

"I saw him trying to yank the bag off her and she was holding on. He just yanked it and pushed her to the ground. I started yelling out 'Hey he's taken her bag'," Ms Puru said.

"I went to help her and she was not saying anything just shaking. Her hands were covered in blood where the stones had broken her skin," Ms Puru said.

While the thief ran through Civic Arcade, Ms Joyce and another woman thought by running down Water St they might be able to cut him off, but the robber had disappeared. "This is a real warning for elderly people to be careful and there are these sort of people out there waiting for defenceless people," Ms Joyce said.

Whangarei police Sergeant Paul Nicholas said the woman's handbag was found in the toilets of the The Strand Arcade minus some money, cards and a set of car keys. An ambulance was called and the elderly woman was treated for her cut hands. Witnesses should call Whangarei police station as soon as possible 09 4304500.

Meanwhile, Whangarei police were late yesterday investigating a suspected aggravated robbery of a Rathbone St business.