Three people are facing kidnapping charges after they allegedly detained two youths while pretending to be police officers in Bay of Plenty.
Using a retired police car, refitted with off-market lights, the group allegedly posed as detectives and detained two young people during the September 13 incident.
“Like a lot of old police cars, this vehicle had been stripped of all police equipment and markings before being sold at auction," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ash Clements said.
“Despite this, parts of the Commodore were allegedly re-fitted with off-market lights to give it the appearance of an unmarked police car."
The group allegedly portrayed themselves as detectives and wore plain clothes without body armour or uniforms.
"This, paired with the imitation police vehicle, is more than enough to trick an unsuspecting person,” Clements said.
He called the incident "traumatic" for the two young victims.
A 34-year-old man was arrested over the incident on Monday. He was also arrested for earlier incidents of impersonating police.
The man was remanded in custody and is due to reappear in the Whakatāne District Court on October 7, charged with impersonating personnel, indecent assault, intimidation, two counts of kidnapping, and five counts of impersonating police.
A 19-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were arrested yesterday.
The 19-year-old was due to appear in the Whakatāne District Court today, charged with indecent assault, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of impersonating Police.
The woman was charged with kidnapping and was due to appear in the Whakatāne District Court on September 29.
“Detaining a person under false pretences and without the proper authority amounts to kidnapping, which is an extremely serious offence in addition to impersonating police, and we take this offending seriously," Clements said.
Police wanted to speak to anyone in the area who may have seen the group, or anyone else using a black 2017 Holden Commodore, under the false pretences that they were police officers. Information can be provided by calling 105.
“Anyone who doubts that they are speaking with a real police officer is urged to ask for their police issued ID, and if you still have concerns, call 111 immediately and a Police Communicator can identify the officer for you,” Clements said.
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