Police in Northland have caught up with a man who is alleged to have personated a Police officer by attaching red and blue flashing lights to his vehicle.
Mid North response manager, Senior Sergeant Mark Barratt, says the man allegedly signalled for other drivers to stop.
¡°Two recent incidents were reported that concerned us, where someone with fake Police vehicle lights has allegedly signalled for female drivers to stop at night.
¡°Both female drivers were the sole occupant of their vehicles,¡± he says.
¡°On both occasions, the female drivers have stopped, and the alleged offender has exited his vehicle, and engaged them in conversation.
¡°The female drivers have then driven away from the man unharmed but were left distressed by his actions.
¡°The incidents could have also led to a crash and put the lives of other road users at risk.¡±
Police investigators were able to identify a suspect from images of the vehicle taken from CCTV footage.
¡°Yesterday, we executed a search warrant at an address in Kerikeri and located a vehicle which had red and blue lights fitted to it.
¡°A 17-year-old man was referred to Youth Aid as a result,¡± Senior Sergeant Barratt says.
¡°We are greatly concerned by this man¡¯s actions and believe he may have approached and signalled other drivers in the region to stop with the activated red and blue lights.¡±
If you have any information on these incidents, or other similar occurrences, please call Police on 105, quoting file number 240625/9125.
You can also contact Police online at /use-105 clicking "Update Report" and reference the file number above.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre