Police are investigating a spate of bag-snatchings in Auckland, including one instance where a woman was dragged behind a car while holding her bag.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said there had been seven handbag thefts in East Auckland this month, targeting women in shopping centre carparks.
Mr Wilkinson said in all the incidents, the offenders had been young Maori or Polynesian men using stolen cars, which they used to immediately flee the scene.
He said the latest theft was on 19 December, when the victim hung on to her bag and was dragged about 20 metres back to the car.
The thief then got into the car and began driving, continuing to drag the woman for a short distance.
Mr Wilkinson said anyone targeted in such a theft shouldn't try to hold onto their possessions, but instead let it go and call the police.
Woman hit in Hamilton
Meanwhile, a women was hit in the face with a beer bottle while waiting to take her family home from a Hamilton bar.
Police said CCTV footage showed a man forcefully throwing the bottle at the Te Rapa bar last night.
They said the woman suffered significant injuries but had now been released from hospital.
A 22-year-old Hamilton man will be appearing in the Hamilton District Court today on a charge of Wounding with Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm.
