A Tauranga woman was left shaken but unhurt after escaping from a shotgun-wielding abductor early today.
The 34-year-old woman was abducted from her home at gunpoint by the intruder and forced to drive him - in her own vehicle - to Katikati, 35km northwest of Tauranga.
There she stopped for fuel and
made her escape, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Wright-St Clair said today.
The offender then drove off in the woman's black Nissan Terrano.
Police appealed to Waihi Beach residents for any sightings of the vehicle between 5am and 6am as it was being driven from Tauranga to Waihi, or the driver who was described as a heavily tattooed Caucasian man, 30, wearing a black T-shirt with three-quarter length sleeves, black jeans and black boots.
The man was last seen hitch-hiking north from the area about 7.15am.
"This person is considered dangerous and should not be approached," Mr Wright-St Clair said.
Caltex Katikati manager Lester Gray praised the actions of a woman forecourt attendant with just one month's experience.
Seeing the terrified abductee attempt to flee her vehicle, the woman referred to only as Angela, ducked down in a secure place and hit the panic button that sent security guards rushing to the scene about 5.30am, Mr Gray said.
Police arrived shortly after.
"She (Angela) was very shaken up, but the way she reacted was absolutely awesome. She kept her head 100 percent, which shows all her training worked," he said.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
