Hamilton Police are asking for help finding a man who assaulted a woman in her Dinsdale home.

The victim was asleep on her couch at around 2:45pm on Tuesday, when she woke to find a stranger in her home.

The man punched her twice in the face before stealing her handbag and fleeing.

The woman told police the burglar was a chubby, Maori man, aged in his early 20s.

He has black, scruffy hair which touches his collar at the back, was wearing a plain grey marle t-shirt and has a distinctive, silver Celtic cross tattoo on his neck, police said.

Police allege the man entered the house through an unlocked door, but don't know what direction he headed in when he left.

Stevenson asked anyone with information that could help them identify the man to call on Hamilton police on 07 858 620 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.​