North Shore Police investigating a handbag snatch from an 88 year-old woman at the Northcote shops a few weeks ago need to identify a man captured on CCTV.
At around 2.13pm on the afternoon of Thursday 27 August, the elderly lady was walking towards the Countdown supermarket when she was approached from behind. She was pushed and fell onto the ground and the offender snatched her handbag.
He ran off into the direction of the library.
A number of Police officers flooded the area and the Eagle Helicopter was also deployed but the offender wasn’t found, and enquiries to identify and locate him have been ongoing.
The victim 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 seen in these pictures.
In the first picture (near the bus stop), the man has his hoody unzipped and a t-shirt with some distinctive writing can be seen underneath. The t-shirt appears to have the letters “BRKLYN” in large black writing on a white background.
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. 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”
“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” says Det Sgt Todd Bartlett, North Shore Police.
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.
ENDS
Audio of this release is available. Please call or email Beth for a copy.
Beth Bates/Waitemata Police
