KEY POINTS:
Nine men have been arrested after a spate of handbag thefts in Auckland.
Police said that the handbag snatchers targeted mainly Asian women who they believed carried large sums of cash, credit cards and jewellery.
Detective Senior Sergeant James Bothamley said the arrests came after 15 search warrants were executed by an Operation Snatch crime team in June.
Over 30 handbag thefts were reported between March and May this year, mostly in west Auckland.
Police described the thefts as "brazen" and said they were carried out by an "organised criminal gang".
"They observed and monitored the victims closely," said Mr Bothamley said.
"Although the majority of these handbag offenders have merely been charged with theft and dishonesty offences, the operational outcome is we achieved our desired objectives by neutralising this group of young criminals," Mr Bothamley said.
He said further charges could be laid.
Mr Bothamley said there has been a noticeable decline in the number of reported handbag snatches after the arrests in the Waitemata area.
Police were surprised to discover a cannabis growing operation at one of the addresses.
The nine men have been charged with a variety of theft, aggravated robbery, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and drug-related offences.
Police found a number of stolen items in their raids and are looking to return them to the owners.
Over 60 items are listed on the police website.
Mr Bothamley encouraged people to look at thepolice website where photos of all the items are available.
