Police Applaud Alert Actions Of 12 Year Old Boy

Browns Bay Police are applauding the alert actions of a 12 year old boy whose vigilance has resulted in the arrest of an alleged 32 year old sex offender.

Police have been investigating several recent incidents in which a male has acted lewdly in front of school girls in the area of Sunrise Avenue, in suburban Murray’s Bay on North Shore.

Police say that at about 7.30am on Thursday 2 September 2010 the offender parked his vehicle on Sunrise Avenue. He then proceeded to do an indecent act while a 13 year old girl was walking past the car. The young girl was left feeling revolted, scared and unsure what to do. She later reported the incident to her school.

Police recently received a break through in their enquiries when a student from the same school observed a male driving slowly down Sunrise Avenue past a group of women. The boy noted down the partial plate number, make and model of the vehicle. He also recorded an excellent description of the driver. The student reported this incident to a staff member at the school. The prior actions of the male miscreant had been conveyed to students and parents.

Police believe this offender is responsible for a number of similar offences that are unreported. They urge anyone who has witnessed or knows of similar incidents of behaviour in the Sunrise Avenue area in recent months to call them immediately. Constable Kerry RAIT of Browns Bay police can be contacted on 09 353 0410 or alternatively anyone wanting to provide information can do so anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The 32 year old man will appear in the North Shore District Court on Wednesday 22 September 2010 on three charges of committing an indecent act. The penalty for such offences is two years imprisonment. The man who is not a New Zealand resident was previously unknown to Police.