Shoppers with expensive-looking handbags are being reminded to be vigilant after a spate of bag snatches on Auckland's North Shore.

Police said there was three recent handbag snatching incidents in the Northcote Shopping Centre, one in each month of February, March and April.

All incidents happened in the evenings between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

In each event, the victim was an Asian female aged in either their 50s or 60s, police said.

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One victim described the offenders to police as being aged around 13 to 15 years old; however, police do not believe all the snatch attempts are linked.

123RF Police remind shoppers to pay attention to their surroundings to avoid being targeted by bag snatchers. (File photo.)

Police said in February the bag-snatchers got away on foot, in March bystanders ran down the bag snatcher and recovered the handbag and, in April, a victim was assaulted as the offender tried to snatch her bag, before fleeing with the bag in a stolen vehicle which was driven by a second person. The bag was eventually located and police enquiries are ongoing.

Over the years, the shopping centre has had a number of bag-snatch incidents, including the high-profile case of local and good Samaritan Lucy Knight who was knocked to the ground as she came to the aid of a woman who was the victim of a bag-snatch attempt in September 2014.

Knight was hit the back of the head by teenager Hendrix Hauwai, fracturing her skull.

Waitematā police Senior Sergeant Todd Bartlett said handbag snatching was a problem that arose from time to time.

"By remaining alert and conscious of your surroundings, you can reduce the chances of becoming a victim," Bartlett said.

"Criminals tend to target ladies who are carrying handbags that look expensive."

Distracted shoppers, who are talking on their cellphone while walking, or those walking to or from their car, are prime targets, Bartlett said.

Bartlett recommended not carrying too much cash, having a companion when withdrawing cash from an ATM and locking car doors immediately after entering the car as tips that would reduce the chances of being victimised by handbag thieves.