Police are searching for the driver of an unwarranted and unlicensed car that allegedly did a brazen set of burnouts outside New Plymouth's police station and district court over the weekend.
Footage circulating online showed a vehicle revving and skidding on Powerham St around 5pm on Saturday, with tyres screeching and thick smoke billowing into the air.
A man recording the incident can be heard encouraging the driver, saying, "Come down here, bro" as the skidding car approached a pedestrian crossing near the station.
An orange roadwork sign reading "TEMPORARY" appeared to have been placed over the vehicle’s number plate, obscuring its registration.
Several people could be seen standing and watching the scene unfold from the entrance of the police station.
"A police vehicle responded and located the offending vehicle, and signalled for it to stop, which it failed to do so," a police spokesperson told 1News.
"Police did not pursue the vehicle due to the manner of driving."
Senior Sergeant Brad Pollock said the vehicle was later located at an address in Waiwhakaiho sometime later.
"An investigation is underway to identify the driver and the persons responsible for the anti-social driving."
The unregistered vehicle did not have a boot and was bearing the sign 'FTP' in the back window.
Block said the driver was wearing a balaclava and the car's licence plates had also been removed, presumably to prevent police from identifying those involved.
The vehicle was impounded for 28 days and was issued a non-operation order which meant it could not go on the road.
Block said police had sourced and reviewed relevant CCTV and online footage.
"Persons involved in stopping traffic at the same time to aid the driver of the vehicle have been identified and will be visited by police shortly."
Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.
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