Police are appealing for help to identify the man who snatched an elderly woman's bag. Photo / Supplied via police
Police are appealing for help to identify the man who snatched an elderly woman's bag. Photo / Supplied via police
Police are appealing for help identifying a man that pushed an elderly woman to the ground and snatched her handbag at Northcote shops.
North Shore Police said the 88-year-old woman was walking towards the Countdown supermarket in Northcote when she was pushed to the ground and had her handbag stolen.
Detective Sergeant Todd Bartlett said after the incident on August 27 a number of police officers were called to the area and the Eagle Helicopter was also deployed, but the offender wasn't found.
The woman was not hospitalised, but had grazes to her knees and elbows, and was very shaken.
The offender was described as having similar clothing to the man captured on CCTV in the area.
In one picture the man has his hoody unzipped and a t-shirt with some distinctive writing, police say perhaps the word "BRKLYN", can be seen underneath.
In the second picture it appears the man has zipped up the hoody and the t-shirt can't be seen, but the hoody also appears to have writing across the chest area.
"We need people to think about whether they know someone who owns a t-shirt like this, and fits this description," Mr Bartlett said.
"We know all too well from experience in this very area just what can happen during offences like this, and though the victim wasn't hospitalised, her faith in humanity has been shaken.
Anyone with information should call the North Shore Police. Photo / Supplied via police
"The elderly are one of our most vulnerable groups and they have the right, like the rest of us, to be safe and feel safe walking to the shops.
"To anyone who knows this person we say, what if it was your Nana? There should be zero tolerance for this behaviour in our communities and we appeal to anyone with information to get in touch."
In an incident near the same shops in September last year, Lucy 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 should call the North Shore Police on 09 477 5261. Information can also be given anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
