One of the main offenders is in custody awaiting sentencing for theft in January and another was arrested on Thursday night as the result of a search warrant on a North Shore property. The rest are still at large.
Mr Cunningham said there appeared to be three main players based in Auckland, and several others who travelled to the city regularly to help with the snatches.
"It's their stock in trade. They distract older ladies and take their handbags, and they do that in a number of ways. Five or six of them did reasonable terms of imprisonment. In that time, it went quiet. But then two of the main offenders started to pick up again, they are back to their old style of offending."
Mr Cunningham said they worked in groups of at least two.
They often targeted older women pushing their trolleys at supermarkets, but had also grabbed bags at shops. Sometimes they would take wallets or credit cards from bags if they were visible.
"They enter a shop and while one engages the shop assistant the other will locate handbags or wallets under counters or in staffrooms or back rooms."
They were more wily when it came to elderly women, approaching them in shopping centres and carparks.
"One will go and talk to the elderly woman and ask for directions or something. Then the younger one, maybe the daughter, nips in behind and takes off with the bag."
Mr Cunningham said that within hours of the snatch the thieves would be spending the spoils.
"The offenders are only after cash or credit cards. They go to a nearby shopping centre and thrash the cards in about two hours. A lot of these older ladies don't realise it's happened straight away. And most don't have cellphones, so when they do realise they have to go all the way home to use the phone and call the bank to cancel their cards."
The victims' average age was 73, but many were in their mid to late 80s.
Mr Cunningham said police had 50 complaints they were prosecuting or investigating. "And there are possibly more out there. It's a nightmare."
The 69-year-old victim, who did not want to be named, was on her way home from church two weeks ago when she was targeted. She had stopped at the Beach Haven Rd shops and was leaving in her car when the women struck.
"As I was backing out with my things, a lady who had parked a bit close behind me called out to ask if I was okay to back out. I said yes and began to, then she came and knocked on my window to ask again."
She had just backed out when another younger woman stopped her and asked for directions to the motorway. She got out of the car to help and it was not until she arrived home that she realised her handbag was gone. It contained her cellphone, glasses, credit cards, driver's licence and about $20 cash.
"Talk about brazen, am I cheesed off," she said.
If you see the bag snatchers at work contact Sergeant Scott Cunningham on 477 5313.
