A group of four women assaulted a South Auckland shop keeper before making off with a cache of cigarettes this afternoon.
Officers were called to Manurewa Food Market on Great South Rd, Manurewa, shortly before 2pm, a police spokeswoman said.
The women requested tampons before turning on a shop keeper and striking them in the face.
They stole an unknown quantity of cigarettes before staff managed to activate a security alarm.
Police and ambulance staff arrived soon after the offenders fled.
