Alarm and concern are growing in the east Auckland community over an incident which may or may not involve a young person having been abducted.
Police revealed on June 5 they were in the very early stages of an investigation into an incident in Northpark reported the previous night.
“Enquiries are under way to establish the exact circumstances surrounding this incident,” a police spokesperson said.
“A scene examination has been completed and there will be an increased police presence in the area as we conduct enquiries.”
People posted on local community Facebook pages that multiple police cars and an ambulance were at a location in Millhouse Drive.
A person commented anonymously the incident related to a schoolgirl who had been abducted. Police have not confirmed that is the case.
On June 6 police said a young person had received medical care and was back with his or her family.
Police said they wanted to hear from anyone with information that may help them establish what happened.
Officers have visited homes and businesses along Millhouse Drive to speak to residents and workers and to ask if they have CCTV footage of the area.
In the days since news of the incident became public the Times has been approached by several dozen local parents asking if it’s true that a girl was abducted and if they need to be more cautious regarding their child’s safety.
On June 10 the Times asked police for an update on the investigation.
Additional questions included if the young person was bound or tied up when found, if police were seeking an offender, if there was an ongoing threat to the public, and why police had not publicly corrected statements circulating on social media if they are inaccurate.
A spokesperson replied: “The police investigation remains ongoing and we are making a number of enquiries in relation to this incident.
“Police are also appealing for dashcam footage captured between Botany Road and Millhouse Drive on Wednesday, June 5.
“The investigation team would like to hear from anyone who has footage, and was travelling in the area between 3pm-6pm that day.
“Please contact police by calling 105 or going online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.
“Please quote the file number 240605/7947.”
