Elderly woman's handbag snatched near where similar attack hurt good samaritan Lucy Knight

Police officers flooded the area and the eagle helicopter was called in to search, but the offender is still on the run. Photo / File

An elderly woman's handbag was snatched today at almost exactly the same spot a similar attack went horribly wrong and left good samaritan Lucy Knight with a fractured skull.

About 2.15pm a woman in her 80s had her bag taken after she got out of her car at the Northcote shops in Auckland and made her way to the Countdown supermarket.

The offender crept up behind her and pushed her to the ground. He took her bag and ran towards the library, a police spokeswoman said this evening.

Police officers flooded the area and the eagle helicopter was called in to search, but the
offender is still on the run.

The shaken woman suffered grazes to her knees and elbows. She was treated at the scene and driven home by police. The spokeswoman said she would be offered victim support.

CIB officers were now investigating and were checking any CCTV footage that might be available.

The offender is thought to be a Maori or Pacific Island man, about six feet tall and of solid build. He was wearing a bucket hat and a maroon hoodie.

In last September's incident near the same shops, Ms Knight, a mother of six, was punched in the head when she intervened as a young man tried to snatch an older woman's handbag.

Ms Knight suffered a fractured skull, a brain bleed and needed surgery.

Her attacker, 17-year-old Hendrix Hauwai, was jailed for four years and nine months.

Anyone with information about today's attack can contact North Shore CIB on 09 477 5261.