Bag snatch leaves visitor undaunted

An American tourist who was badly injured when her bag was snatched - then stolen again after being retrieved - says she still loves New Zealand and will continue her month-long trip through the country.

Nancy Appunn had been in Paihia for only an hour when she was knocked over and had her bag taken.

After falling, the 75-year-old felt a shooting pain and looked at her arm.

The bone was protruding through her wrist and blood was everywhere.

"I screamed. I think my first reaction was 'I've ruined our trip'. I didn't want to do that because we were looking so forward to spending a month here."

The teenager who allegedly snatched her bag was chased and caught by bystanders.

Mrs Appunn's bag was recovered and placed in a van for safekeeping - only to be taken again by someone else.

The bones in Mrs Appunn's wrist and elbow shattered in the fall and she had two operations this week. Metal plates have been inserted in her elbow and a rod placed along her forearm.

Mrs Appunn had travelled to New Zealand with life-long friend Susan Phillips on February 4 and stayed in Auckland for several days before heading to the Bay of Islands, arriving in Paihia on Monday.

Her bag, which had contained $500, her passport and bank cards, was found by police at a Paihia address, minus the $500.

Mrs Appunn said she still loved New Zealand and if her injuries healed in time she would continue her trip.

"The kindness I have experienced along the way - the policemen, the folks in the emergency department - were just as kind as they could be."

Three 15-year-old youths and a 17-year-old from Moerewa were charged with robbery after the initial incident.

No arrests have been made for the second theft.

- NZPA