KEY POINTS:
Police say she is a "gutsy granny" but North Shore City retiree Dorothy Beall doesn't agree.
The 74-year-old from Forrest Hill said she simply "didn't think" when she stepped in to help an Asian woman wrestling a large attacker who had dragged her down an escalator as he robbed her of her handbag at Glenfield Mall in June 2006.
Although video footage of the attack showed others standing by watching, Mrs Beall, then aged 72, stepped in to what she thought was a domestic dispute and grabbed the robber's T-shirt and then his hair.
It was the latter action that proved crucial for police because the large clump of hair she held on to led to their finding the attacker four months later through a DNA match.
In spite of her own shock and adrenaline at the time of the attack, Mrs Beall calmly took the victim, an Asian woman who knew little English, to the nearest bank to cancel her credit cards and placed the chunk of hair in an envelope with her contact details.
Her quick-thinking and bravery saw her become what police believe is the first North Shore civilian to be honoured with a New Zealand Police Commissioner's appreciation award.
The honour is the civilian equivalent of a Commissioner's Commendation, a high-level award given out only rarely to sworn officers for exceptional acts of bravery.
At a presentation ceremony yesterday in North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams' office, Mrs Beall said she was "gobsmacked" and didn't feel she had done anything special.
"I didn't think at all," she said. "I just went and grabbed his T-shirt and his hair - actually sort of ripped it away. I was very upset when he got away. I think I felt anger more than anything."
North Shore area commander Inspector Les Paterson described Mrs Beall as a "gutsy granny" and commended her for the "tremendous act".
Mrs Beall laughed at the reference and later said that she actually had no children or grandchildren - "just cats" - but was a great aunt and great, great aunt.
"My nephews, when they heard, they said don't ever do it again because they can carry knives. But somehow I think I would. You just don't think. It's just so annoying to see that."
Waitemata district commander Superintendent Viv Rickard said the police did not actually advise members of the public to put themselves in danger. However, he too expressed appreciation for her actions.
"When I think about your birth date ... the fact that you're not at the younger part of your life and just jumped in is something you should be remembered for. Your actions were fantastic.
"It's not the value of any property that got stolen - that can be replaced. It's the fact that you actually did something, that you cared."
Mayor Williams expressed the same thoughts.
The mugger, who was then aged 16, was dealt with by the North Shore Youth Court.
