Police baffled by apparent abduction of girl

Police in Tokoroa are baffled by an incident in which a young girl was lured into a car and dropped off unharmed three hours later.

But they are urging parents in the town not to jump to conclusions about the possibility of a child predator being on the loose.

The five-year-old girl was picked up by a stranger driving a small red car in Tokoroa about 3.30pm on Monday after she had become separated from her older brother while walking home.

The stranger dropped her off at a local carpark at 6.30pm.

She was returned unharmed to her family by a member of the public who saw her being dropped off.

Detective Sergeant Karl Thornton said police did not yet know what went on during the time the girl was with the person and planned to speak to her today.

The girl's parents were very upset about what had happened and were taking a couple of days to gather their thoughts, he said.

Mr Thornton said it was the first complaint of its type in some time.

"At this stage, it is one out of the box. But the whole nature of it is concerning to us."

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)