Shoppers rushed to help a woman found screaming and in shock in an East Auckland carpark yesterday afternoon, after she was allegedly robbed of her handbag and assaulted by a man who then fled in a damaged car.
Amber Robinson-Frani was having lunch with her two sons at Sumthin Dumpling, near the Kmart entrance to the retail complex on Ti Rakau Dr when the alleged attack happened at around 1.10pm.
She said the carpark had been full and busy for a Friday lunchtime when her teenage son noticed something was wrong.
"My teen said to me he heard a lady screaming. Then he said he saw the stolen car try to exit across the pedestrian crossing at the front of Kmart with the front bumper half broken off from hitting the curb trying to flee quickly," Robinson-Frani told 1News.
She went outside and found the woman sitting on the ground at the back of the carpark with bystanders already gathered around her.
"The lady was sitting on the ground of the carpark screaming and crying, someone was holding her, she was massively in shock," Robinson-Frani said.
"A few people were rushing to her aid, she showed her leg, her shin, which was bruised and scratched, and was screaming for someone to phone her husband."
Police said they were made aware of the incident after the woman had her handbag stolen and was then assaulted in the carpark.
A 39-year-old man from Otara was arrested within 45 minutes of the report being made.
"Police are pleased to have been able to respond quickly, with the alleged offender located and arrested within 45 minutes of the incident being reported," a police spokesperson said.
The man has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Manukau District Court on September 14, facing charges of aggravated assault, theft, failing to stop, and drug related offences.
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