‘I didn’t have a chance’
87-year-old David Geor (pictured) was grabbed from behind and shoved into his car. His attackers then drove to an ATM and withdrew money from his account. He speaks publicly for the first time since his ordeal.
There were two of them, one had him in a bear hug, and the odds were obvious: “I didn’t have a chance.”
That was how 87-year-old retired retailer and orchardist David Geor was kidnapped in the Countdown Hastings carpark, by a man and woman forcing him to let them take money from his bank account before abandoning him trapped in the back of his hatchback in another carpark.
But it wasn’t over, for it took at least another 10 minutes to free himself from where he’d been pinned down and threatened.
“I was on the floor between the front and back seats, and my arm was locked in,” he said. “But I got out of that position and opened the door.”
Yesterday he spoke publicly for the first time about the frightening ordeal which happened last Saturday afternoon, sparking both public anger targeting the offenders and support for the victim.
“It’s not very nice thinking about it,” he said yesterday, back at the supermarket where he and his wife have been customers since it opened in 1990.
Although police were yet to make any arrests, it was a happy return as customer services manager Nicole Duncan-Lees presented him with a hamper and vouchers.
“People are so good, I appreciate it very much,” said Geor, who with his wife had started an orchard at Maungateretere after he retired at age 81 from the couple’s Heretaunga St fashion shoe shop.
Geor said the carpark didn’t appear particularly busy when he went back to his vehicle last week, and a woman from a car in the next spot stopped him to ask directions.
With doors of both vehicles open and blocking the view from one side, he was tackled by the male assailant.
“I didn’t have a chance,” the victim said. “He gave me a big bear hug from behind and pushed me into the car.”
The pair then drove Geor, against his will, to an ATM in the Mahora shopping centre and made several withdrawals from his account.
Other support for Geor and his wife include about $1500 donated by Hawke’s Bay Today readers, and another hamper which a concerned member of the public left yesterday at the paper’s Napier office.
He’s not a tall man, walks with the aid of a stick and had significant back surgery about 10 years ago, but was little the worse for wear.
Detective Ryan Kemsley, of Hawke’s Bay CIB, said: “While he had back surgery 10 years ago he’s fit for his age. He has severe bruising over his body, and lacerations on his hands, and as a result he’s still very sore — but pleased it’s not any worse.”
"I was on the floor between the front and back seats, and my arm was locked in. But I got out of that position and opened the door." Kidnap victim David Geor