Recovered handbag booty on police website

A successful handbag theft investigation in Auckland has left police with dozens of items to return to their rightful owners.

Detective Senior Sergeant James Bothamley said more than 60 stolen items have been listed on the police website to be claimed.

"Anyone who has been a victim of any recent handbag theft in the Auckland region can go to the police website to check for their property," he said.

Operation Snatch was lead by special operations group the Waitemata Law Enforcement Team and ended on 15 June.

The team, made up of thirty police investigators,  targeted a group of male suspects for numerous hand bag thefts throughout metropolitan Auckland over period March to May this year.

There were 30 separate handbag snatch incidents reported, with most victims Asian woman.

Bothamley said an organised criminal gang targeted the Asian community and others at shopping malls and other locations over several months.

Nine men have been charged with a variety of offences including theft, aggravated robbery, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and drug offences. 

Bothamley said the alleged offenders were a tightly knit group.

"They observed and monitored the victims closely, in the belief that their chosen targets carried large sums of cash, credit cards, and select jewellery."

"Although the majority of these handbag offenders have merely been charged with theft and dishonesty offences, the operational outcome is we achieved our desired objectives by neutralising this group of young criminals." 

"These arrests are gratifying for all the police personnel involved. We had an array of policing resources at our disposal which we used with fullest effect."

"Now we can seek to return the recovered property to their rightful owners."

The website is: www.police.govt.nz/recovered

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