Hamilton police have arrested three men in relation to the robberies of three women in the city last month and are looking for a fourth person.
The three men, aged 21, 22 and 18, were due to appear in the Hamilton District Court today to face a raft of charges related to the following robberies:
* 17 January - an 80-year-old woman suffered a broken hip after her bag was snatched from her at Five Cross Rds and she was knocked to the ground.
* 25 January - A 40-year-old woman was tackled and thrown to the ground when she was robbed of her handbag in Frankton. She suffered a sprained ankle and grazes to her hand and knee.
* 25 January - A 73-year-old woman had her handbag snatched from her on Hukanui Rd, outside Westfield shopping centre.
The three men are charged jointly with the following:
2 x robbery
2 x conspiracy to commit robbery
1 x receiving
6 x attempting to use a document for fraudulent purposes
Detective Sergeant Nigel Keall said police were now looking for a fourth man they believe was also involved in the robberies. He is described as a male Maori, of average height and athletic build. Near the scene of the robbery outside Westfield shopping centre, he was wearing a camouflage print t-shirt and had two long dreadlocks tied together at the back of his head. Police believe the man could be anywhere in the Greater Waikato area.
Mr Keall said police also wanted to speak to a possible witness to the Five Cross Rds robbery on 17 January, where a woman came to the aid of the elderly woman and then left the scene.
Mr Keall said it was imperative the fourth person involved in the robberies was found as soon as possible.
"There will be people out there who know who this person is and it's essential we find him. We are appealing to the conscience of this man and anyone else who knows him - these are reprehensible crimes on defenceless and in two cases, elderly women. They were unable to fight back and defend themselves and received quite serious injuries as a result," he said.
Anyone with information about the fourth person police are seeking and the witness to the first attack, should contact Detective Jon Hopkins at Hamilton Central police, phone 07 8389436.