A photo of the vehicle of interest police say was linked to an indecent act against an Auckland schoolgirl. Photo / NZ Police
A photo of the vehicle of interest police say was linked to an indecent act against an Auckland schoolgirl. Photo / NZ Police
Police have released images of the people mover driven by a naked man who pulled up alongside a young girl and performed a sex act as she walked home from school.
A spokesperson said police were seeking information on a people mover linked to an indecent act committed in Epsomthis week.
Today’s plea followed a complaint about a man’s behaviour towards a young student on Wednesday afternoon.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves, area investigations manager for Auckland City East, told the driver to stop “delaying the inevitable” and hand himself over.
“We have now obtained an image of a vehicle in the Gladwin Rd area on Tuesday afternoon,” he said.
“Police would like anyone who saw this vehicle, or has further information concerning it to contact us.”
School girl left ‘shaken’ after being followed
The 14-year-old girl has been left “really shaken”.
The Auckland girl’s father, who asked not to be named, also made an appeal on a community social media page after searching for the man himself when his daughter came home distressed.
He said she got off the school bus at the Royal Oak end of Manukau Rd and was beginning her short walk home.
“She was followed by a man with shoulder-length hair driving an old, rusty, beige van.
“As he pulled up next to her she saw that he was naked and touching himself.”
A photo of the vehicle driven by a man doing an indecent act against an Auckland schoolgirl. Photo / NZ Police
Greaves said the people mover was last seen travelling down Lewin Rd.
He is urging anyone with information to contact police.
“I’d also encourage the driver of this vehicle, who knows who they are, to stop delaying the inevitable and come to speak with police.”
Yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend described the driver as a Caucasian male, aged between 40 and 50. He was slim build, with blonde hair down to his neckline
He said anyone with information should call 105 using the reference number 250212/5501.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The father didn’t think there were any “overt safety concerns” in the immediate area, but the incident was particularly concerning as there were several schools in the area.
“But by and large, I wouldn’t let a 14-year-old girl walk down, say, Queen Street by herself in the afternoon.”
He felt there was “not much” they could do other than contact police about the “opportunistic, predatory behaviour”.
“Right now we probably don’t want to let the kids walk around by themselves [anymore], but you know that is, at the moment, I think understandable knee-jerk reaction.
“We’ve never felt unsafe like this.”
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