Shoppers and a Kmart worker stayed with the injured woman until Police arrived, witnesses say
A man has been charged with aggravated assault after a woman had her handbag stolen and was assaulted in the Kmart Botany carpark on Friday afternoon.
“Police were first made aware of the incident where a woman had her handbag stolen and was then assaulted at approximately 1.10pm,” a Police spokesperson said.
“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.”
Amber Robinson-Frani was eating lunch with her two sons at Somthin Dumpling, beside the carpark.
Her teenage son said he heard a woman scream.
“A lady got her car hijacked from her at Botany Kmart,” Robinson-Frani said.
She said the thief “rammed the car over the kerb damaging the front bumper and took off towards BP exit”.
“I quickly rushed out of Somthin Dumpling to see the victim lady sitting on the ground screaming, quite a few people were rushing to her aid, she showed her leg/shin which was bruised and scratched.
“And was screaming for someone to phone her husband,” she told the Howick & Eastern Post.
She described her as “massively in shock”.
Another woman who was in the carpark said she “heard the commotion after the actual car jacking happened”.
Police have not described a car being taken and the charges they have listed do not include taking a vehicle.
The second woman said she went over to offer first aid.
She found the injured woman already surrounded by people helping her.
She said she did not want to interfere “and cause more upset as it was overwhelming enough for her and everyone who actually witnessed it”.
She said she wanted to “applaud the group of amazing people and the Kmart staffer who came to her aid, called the police and stayed with her until police arrived”.
“The amount of people who came to help was awesome,” Robinson-Frani said.
Police arrived within five to 10 minutes, with lights and sirens, she said.
A third woman saw the injured woman that afternoon without knowing what had happened.
She said it was “crazy that it happened in the middle of the day with so many people around”.
The second witness said she hoped the woman had “no permanent physical injuries” and would be “ok as this would have been traumatic”.
“A 39-year-old man from Otara has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Manukau District Court on 14 September, facing aggravated assault, theft, failing to stop, and drug related charges,” the Police spokesperson said.
