KEY POINTS:
A new witness has come forward to report seeing what police believe is the car involved in the attempted kidnap of a 10-year-old girl north of Auckland last week.
The vehicle was spotted in Stanmore Bay, on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, shortly after the driver of a similar car tried to abduct the girl nearby.
Detective Mark Palma of Orewa CIB said a witness had come forward saying they had seen the offender's car, a black or very dark navy four wheel drive with a covered tyre on its rear and distinctive red silky looking seat covers.
"We are confident that the person has seen the vehicle involved," Mr Palma said.
"Hopefully somebody else in the area might have seen it as well."
Mr Palma said the witness saw the offender's vehicle turn into Cooper Rd from Vipond Rd, shortly after the attempted abduction occurred in nearby Wairoa Rd last Tuesday.
He said the witness was walking in Vipond Road when he saw the four-wheel drive arrive and its driver behaved in an erratic manner after getting stuck behind a truck before leaving the road.
"He saw that the vehicle had tinted windows, which we didn't know before, but the passenger's window was down so he got a good look in the car," Mr Palma said.
"The driver was trying to wind it up, according to the pedestrian, who said the driver was attempting to obscure his face by doing that and by holding up a mobile phone, though the witness didn't think he was actually using it."
Mr Palma said police also wished to speak to the driver of a pale green or blue commercial van which the witness saw arrive shortly after the 4x4 had gone from Vipond Rd.
"The witness said this van slowed down and seemed to be looking in side streets," Mr Palma said.
"The witness put two and two together and thought the van must be looking for the 4x4 vehicle."
He said the driver of the van was not Theo Hoffman, the man who helped foil the abduction attempt on the girl and then set off looking for the four wheel drive before running out of petrol.
"We would like this driver to contact Orewa CIB as soon as possible, as he may have valuable information which can greatly assist us in our current enquiries."
Anyone else who might have seen the 4x4 in the Vipond Rd area is asked to call police.
The girl, known only as Katie, struggled against the offender, who threatened to kill her if she did not get in his car. The offender left once Mr Hoffman approached and asked what was happening.
Mr Palma said the offender was between 180cm and 185cm tall with black hair and some facial hair on his chin. He was wearing jeans with a black jacket with white writing on the sleeves.
- NZPA
