Police are searching for a man who stole a handbag from a woman as she walked along a Collingwood Park street last night.

Around 9.30 the 18-year-old woman was walking along the footpath on Lawrie Drive and she noticed a car stop as she approached the intersection with Milgate Street.

A man got out of the front passenger seat and asked her for directions. He then grabbed hold of her handbag and after a struggle, pulled it from her grasp. He returned to the car which was last seen driving north along Lawrie Drive.

The woman was not injured.

The car was described as being an older model white four door sedan.

The man is described as being Pacific Islander in appearance, around 30-years-old, solid build, 180cm tall, dark tanned skin and dark eyes. He was wearing a light coloured zip up jacket with the hood pulled up over his head and long pants.

Police investigations are continuing.