KEY POINTS:
A terrified shop owner locked herself into her car to escape two attackers less than 24 hours before Joanne Wang was knocked down by a car in the same spot during a bag snatching.
The 48-year-old Asian woman was walking to her store with the previous day's takings in her bag on Sunday when she noticed two men in a silver car watching her in the carpark at Westfield Manukau.
She ran back to her own car where she sat terrified while one of the men tried to open all the locked doors. The men ran off when they failed to get in.
The woman's son told the Herald his parents reported the incident at the Manukau police station that night, but the registration plate details they provided did not match the silver car.
The shop owner knew Mrs Wang, who also worked in the mall, and is devastated by her death.
Police revealed yesterday that Joanne Wang died for the contents of her handbag - a few personal items and not much cash.
The 39-year-old businesswoman had finished shopping at Westfield Manukau and was climbing into her car with her 8-year-old son when her bag was stolen on Monday afternoon.
"As they both hopped into the vehicle which was parked in the carpark an unknown offender reached through the passenger door and removed Joanne's grey two-handled handbag from the centre console," said Counties Manukau crime manager Detective Inspector John Tims.
Based on witness statements, police believe Mrs Wang got out of her car and chased the bag snatcher who climbed into a white 4WD which was waiting nearby.
"Joanne approached this vehicle, held on to it - it would appear she was trying to stop the vehicle from leaving," said Mr Tims.
Mrs Wang clung to the front of the 4WD as it moved back and forward. "As the vehicle, left Joanne fell to the ground and received head injuries."
Mrs Wang was taken to Middlemore Hospital but died at 4.15am yesterday from head injuries.
Police are looking for information about the vehicle, and also want to hear from the owners of a red four-door car which may have been hit by the fleeing 4WD, and a greeny-blue people-mover parked nearby.
Mr Tims said the woman's son was traumatised but was being supported by family and victim support.
Mrs Wang had links to several Hollywood Bakery outlets, including the one at Manukau which is close to where she was parked.
Shocked staff at Westfield Manukau yesterday described her as a cheery, hard-working woman.
Twenty police are now working on the fatal bag snatching case - the area's fourth homicide inquiry.
Others are the shooting of liquor store owner Navtej Singh, the beating of 80-year-old Yin Ping Yang and the death of Katie Powles by a possibly suicidal motorist.
Anyone with information about the latest homicide is asked to call police on (0508) OP Manukau, or (0508) 676-2685
