Cooks Beach indecent assault update; Police receiving good support from local and wider community

Waikato Police investigating an indecent assault of a young girl at a small Coromandel coastal settlement say they are receiving good cooperation from the local and wider community as they continue to seek the offender.

District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Chris Page said the investigation team had been helped by locals and visitors alike as they conducted their enquiries at Cooks Beach yesterday.

"Police were called to Cooks Beach at about 7.30 pm on Saturday after a man exposed himself and indecently assaulted a five-year-old girl while she was walking with a seven-year-old cousin a short distance in front of family members on their way back from the beach.

"Members of the family and the public intervened and the man ran off, chased by a member of the public."

Mr Page said the naked man was not able to be caught and initial reports suggest he escaped in a silver hatchback car with slightly tinted windows at the back and this vehicle appeared to be about 10 years old.

The offender was described as:
A clean shaven Caucasian male who has dark hair and was carrying a red and yellow towel.

"To date we have not had an updated description of the offender or the vehicle provided that we can provide the public with."

As enquiries continue into this brazen attack Mr Page said it was important that anyone else who was the victim of similar types of behaviour or who witnessed such activity contacts Police.

"If you have information, please contact Detective Gavin Hall at the Whitianga Police Station on 07 858 6200, or through your nearest Police Station."

Alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.