Police seek sightings of van linked to abduction attempt

The Ford Econovan police say was used by two men in the alleged attempted abduction of a 22-year...
The Ford Econovan police say was used by two men in the alleged attempted abduction of a 22-year-old woman in central Dunedin on Saturday night. Photo by NZ Police.

Police are appealing for sightings of a silver van around Dunedin. They say two men attempted to drag a woman into the vehicle on Saturday night. 

Two men charged with abducting a woman on Vogel St have been remanded in custody by consent.

Joseph Warren Lepper (36), of Motueka, and Zane Alexander McVeigh (17), labourer, of Kaiapoi, are charged jointly with detaining the woman without her consent with intent to have sexual intercourse with her, at Dunedin on October 19.

Lepper is remanded to November 12.

He did not appear before a judge, instead being dealt with by registrar's adjournment at the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

McVeigh, represented by public defender Andrew Dawson, appeared before Judge Fred McElrea and is to appear again on Thursday for the hearing of an opposed bail application.

Police yesterday said they were particularly interested in talking to any witnesses, and any who might have seen anything of another alleged attempted abduction, of a 25-year-old woman on Hillside Rd, in South Dunedin, also on Saturday night.

Inquiries were continuing on whether the incidents were linked, but ''there are characteristics that we are interested in''.

Police were also interested in any sightings of the ''home-sprayed silver'' Ford Econovan, which was recovered on Sunday.

The Vogel St victim was recovering well from the incident, and ''she is a very brave and courageous young woman to have done what she has done'' in fighting off the two men.

Det Boucher also praised the assistance which was given to her by three male students, who ''did an outstanding job''.

He said the men heard the woman scream for help and the two assailants fled the scene when the students went to help.

Det Boucher said Dunedin was a very safe city and these incidents were highly unusual. ''The fact that a number of people came to assist the victim in the first incident shows the strength of our community,'' he said.

Anyone with information about the van or either of the two alleged abduction incidents was urged to contact Dunedin police on 471-4800 or via the anonymous Crimestoppers line 0800 555-111.

hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

 

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