She is also still stunned by the efforts of Wollongong Hawks player Rhys Martin, who came to her aid and replaced her stolen money after the incident on Monday morning.

"It was a terrible experience," she said.

"But the community is really something. I never saw so many nice people."

Mrs Christodoulou was shopping at Crinis fruit market in Figtree about 8am and had returned to her car. She had been buying groceries for her church group, which cooks lunch for an elderly day care group on Tuesdays.

Turning onto Bellevue Road, she said a man opened her passenger door, grabbed her handbag containing $150 of the church's money, and ran to a waiting car which sped away.

"It was so quick. I was so shocked, I nearly fainted," she said.

"I found myself in the arms of this young man, I don't know who he was or where he came from. I was trembling."

Mrs Christodoulou praised the people who came to her aid; one who chased after the robber's car, and others who called triple-0 and comforted her until police arrived.

One was Wollongong Hawks guard Rhys Martin, who offered to replace her stolen money. After Mrs Christodoulou politely refused, he and another man each slipped $100 into her pocket anyway.

"When I found the money in my pocket, I was ready to collapse for a second time," Mrs Christodoulou said, her voice beginning to crack with emotion.

"We live in a society that is like a jungle, but I never thought we had so many good people to make up for it."

Wollongong police crime manager, Detective Inspector Darren Kelly, said "half a dozen" similar incidents had occurred recently at shopping centres in Corrimal, Fairy Meadow and Figtree, with bags stolen from trolleys or the front seats of cars.

"People need to be visual, be aware of who is around them," he said.

"Sometimes people get a bit casual about leaving property around. It's better to hold your bag than have it on a trolley or seat."

Mrs Christodoulou had some even simpler advice.

"Lock your doors in the car when you're driving.

"If I had my door locked, it wouldn't have happened to me," she said.

Martin and the Wollongong Hawks have donated a framed, signed jersey for auction, with proceeds to go to Mrs Christodoulou's church group.

For more information or to bid on the jersey, see hawks.com.au.