Napier police are investigating the kidnap and knifepoint robbery of a Wellington fisherman working temporarily out of Napier.
Constable Phil Sayers of Napier CIB said although the man was intoxicated he had been able to provide a good description of the car and at least two of the four offenders.
He had been drinking in a Hastings Street bar late on Thursday night when be decided to use nearby bushes in the St John Cathedral grounds as a toilet spot.
As he crossed the road his beanie hat fell out. He heard a voice call out "hey mate, you've dropped your beanie".
The man went over to where a red Ford Falcon car, described as having mag wheels and a boot spoiler, had stopped.
Mr Sayers said the man went around to the back door where one of the occupants who had his beanie was seated.
The hat was handed over and the "finder" extended his hand to shake that of the victim.
Instead, he was yanked into the car and it sped off through Cathedral Lane and into Tennyson Street.
The man, although not knowing Napier well, recognised the Countdown supermarket building as the car headed toward Marine Parade.
"He was taken to a country area where there were no lights," Mr Sayer said, adding police believed it was a spot somewhere between Napier and Hastings.
He was told to hand over his money but said he had none. One of the four then pulled out a knife and held it to his throat. Terrified, he handed over about $200 and was pushed out of the car.
He spent the next few hours walking back to Napier where he called police.
He said his kidnappers were all Maori males, with one having a goatee beard and several dots tattooed on his right knuckle. He also had the tattoo of a cross on his wrist. Another had a distinctive long thin plait of hair.
Mr Sayers said that the victim was "a pretty big guy" but had been traumatised by the incident.
Police are appealing for sightings of the red Falcon, believed to be a 92-95 model, possibly an XR6.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
