Body discovery: Car a 'familiar sight'

A body was found in a car in the Clyde Shopping Centre in Hamilton this morning. Photo / Christine Cornege

Police have cordoned off a Hamilton East shopping area after the body of a man was found in a car this morning.

A person called police shortly after 8am today after they saw the man in the front passenger seat.

Forensics staff dressed in white overalls are currently investigating the scene.

The man, who is believed to be Maori or a Pacific Islander with shoulder-length hair, is still in the car.

A shopkeeper, who have her name as Julie, said the man's silver Toyota Celica had been a familiar sight in the car park at the Clyde Shopping Centre over the past two weeks.

She believed he had been sleeping in his car in the carpark.

What appeared to be a large bag could be seen in the backseat of the car.

A detective at the scene said it was too early to say if the man's death was suspicious.

He said his body will be removed from the scene shortly and taken to Waikato Hospital for an autopsy.