High school warns of man in white van targeting students

An Auckland high school has issued a warning after a man in a white van allegedly attempted to abduct a student on Tuesday afternoon.

A Facebook post by Green Bay High School alleged an adult male driving a small white truck or van approached one of their students at approximately 4pm on South Tirirangi Rd.

“He grabbed the student's arm and tried to pull the student into his vehicle,” the post said.

“The student is being supported by our guidance team and we are in close contact with their family,“principal Fiona Barker told Stuff yesterday.

Police said they were in the “very early stages of investigating” the incident.

According to a police spokesperson, they received a report at 4.23pm that an unknown male driving a vehicle slowed down next to the victim walking on South Titirangi Rd near the intersection with Tinopai Rd.

“He has attempted to start a conversation with her before he reached out of the vehicle and grabbed her by the arm.

“Thankfully, she managed to break free of his grasp and run home, where she informed her parents,“the spokesperson said.

The vehicle is described as a white-coloured flat deck truck, with sign writing on its side, while the driver is described as a Caucasian male aged in his 50s, the spokesperson said.

Police are appealing for anyone who has seen a flat deck truck matching this description in the Titirangi, Green Bay or New Lynn areas to get in touch.

“We also ask that anyone driving in the Titirangi area around this time with recorded dash cam footage to please make contact with the investigation team.”

The spokesperson added that there will be a uniformed police presence in the area to provide reassurance.

Just last week, Lynfield College - less than a 10-minute drive from Green Bay - wrote to schools nearby to warn of a similar incident.

According to an email seen by Stuff, Blockhouse Bay Intermediate School contacted parents to warn them that a 15-year-old female student was approached by a man who tried to get her to get into his car on March 12.

“He was an Indian man with a short moustache and beard, in his 20s or 30s. The car was a biggish white car. The incident happened on Dundale St at about 8.40am,” the email said.