Police are warning the public not to pick up hitchhikers as they respond to an “ongoing incident” in eastern Waikato.
More police were said to be in the area Monday morning and the public were advised to report any suspicious behavior to 111 immediately.
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“We are also advising people not to help anyone attempting to hitchhike in the area this morning,” the police said in a statement.
MARK TAYLOR/Things
Police on the scene in Te Aroha where a gray Mitsubishi is parked in the roadway with broken tires.
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They did not elaborate on the nature of the “incident” and the Waikato Police Department declined to comment further.
At the center of police attention, however, is a gray Mitsubishi at the intersection of Kendrick St and Stanley Ave in Te Aroha.
All four tires were punctured and although the police did not say what had happened, a tactic they often use to put someone in a vehicle is to put nails on the tarseal.
MARK TAYLOR/Things
Police are monitoring traffic flow at the scene in Te Aroha.
Obviously the incident started after midnight.
Matamata-Piako District Councilor for Te Aroha, Russell Smith, was unaware of the incident until around 5:40 am he saw armed police at a cordon in town on his way to work in nearby Waitoa.
His fellow councilors and Mayor Ash Tanner were unaware of the nature of the incident Monday morning.
Residents were also in the dark.
The local dairy The DailyDemand just meters away from the abandoned car knew nothing about it.
When they arrived for the day’s work, the police were already there.
Pedestrians and cyclists also did not know what had happened. One couple only knew details of what they had seen or heard in the media.
Just before 9:30 a.m., a tow truck arrived to pick up the car.
Police said more information would be provided if possible.