Wellington Police investigate attempted abduction and robbery of 18 year old woman

Wellington Police are investigating an attempted abduction and robbery of a young woman in the central city in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 18 year old was walking home on Taranaki Street around 6:20am, near the Salvation Army store and the old Amalgamated Video building, where she noticed two men acting suspiciously.

Detective Sergeant Shane Dye of the Wellington CIB says one of the men grabbed her from behind and attempted to drag her towards his vehicle, a maroon coloured four door car.

"Luckily the victim has several years of karate experience and was able to fight the offender off, however, a second man attempted to grab her handbag over her shoulder. She managed to punch him before she fell to the ground."

Detective Sergeant Dye says the victim luckily managed to fend off her attackers and make her escape.

"This was a very scary attack and has left the victim extremely shaken, leaving her with a knee injury."

Police want to speak to a witness who walked past the victim as she was approaching the Taranaki Street/Vivian Street intersection.

"We believe this man may have walked towards the offenders and may hold helpful information. The victim would have been visibly upset at this time and was running south on Taranaki Street. I appeal to that person to come forward and contact Police."

The first offender is described as fair-skinned of solid build, around 5 foot 8, about 30 years old. He was wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and dark blue baggy jeans.

The second offender was very tall, thinner than the first offender with darker coloured skin, aged around 35 years with a thick black moustache and beard and shoulder-length straight black hair. He was wearing dark-coloured woollen gloves.

Shane Dye says Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area at the time of the attack. Anyone with any information should phone Wellington CIB on (04) 381 2000 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.