Man lurking at park raises alarm

A mother and daughter were followed and circled by a suspiciouslooking man at a popular Feilding park, and are now warning others of the potential danger lurking there.

Tiana Wilson was out walking at Timona Park with her 11-monthold daughter last week when a man in a van circled them three times before following.

Feilding police Sergeant Scott Banner said the man, described as having long grey hair and a beard, and driving a dark green mini-van, was not known to police.

Wilson relocated from Napier three months ago and often visited the park’s playground with her daughter. But this was her first time walking through the park.

As she made her way through the car park she noticed a van drive past, but didn’t think anything of it.

Then it circled her another two times.

The man drove past ‘‘very slowly’’ and stared at Wilson.

His arm was slung out of the window, she said. ‘‘It was a very creepy look.’’

He followed her for a short period before parking his van and watching from a distance.

‘‘I was absolutely terrified. I’ve watched far too much CSI.’’

Wilson rushed back to her car, but couldn’t contact police as her phone battery had died.

She couldn’t read the van’s registration plate.

Now, she is urging others not to walk in the park alone.

‘‘Sometimes I see children walking around by themselves. ‘‘It’s just so secluded in there. ‘‘There are a heap of bushes where something not very nice could happen.’’

Banner was alerted to the incident after Wilson posted on Facebook, but it hadn’t been reported to police.

In such situations, people should go to the police first, rather than turning to the ‘‘power of Facebook’’, he said.

‘‘If he is following someone and they feel threatened, they need to ring us so we can come and see who it is.

‘‘This is a very rare thing to happen, but people need to be vigilant.’’

The incident follows a string of reports earlier this year of young people being approached in the Manawatu¯ town.