A video circulating on social media showing a blockaded roundabout in Masterton is being described as an attempted car-jacking.
The poster said her sister found her way barred by a ripped-up road sign and wooden blocks in the early hours of the morning.
“The police turned up and
said that this is what some young kids and young adults are doing to stop people and steal their cars.
“She got out of her vehicle, as there was no way around and heard voices calling out to her.
“Lucky she was already making a call which more than likely deterred them.”
She said the roadblock was set up at the northern end of Masterton by the skatepark.
Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said he could not condone the actions of the people who had deliberately blocked the roundabout.
He said people needed to think before they acted.
Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Scott Miller said when police attended the job, the offenders had already disappeared, and officers were unable to locate them.
“It looks like the female
driver stopped to take the
wood off the road, and the youths were still there and verbally abused her.”
Miller said he had not seen an incident of people blocking roads before.
He said police were looking into the CCTV in the area to see if they could identify any people in relation to the offending.
He said it was unclear if the incident was linked to others highlighted in the media recently.
He said he met with community members yesterday to discuss the issue.
One of his meetings was with a New World manager who had reported incidents to police.
New World Masterton owner Clive Webber said he was very concerned for the safety of his customers and staff, who were facing daily abuse.
“From simple stealing, this has now grown to my staff being verbally assaulted on a daily basis.”
Webber said a middle-aged staff member was recently punched in the head, and the abuse had forced the store to close on at least one occasion.
“After four incidents yesterday [Thursday, January 12] with the youth, my team is not in a good space at all, with the late shift having to close the shop.”
Miller said because of the close proximity between the New World supermarket and the roundabout, it was possible that the offending had been done by the same group.
He said, however, that was yet to be determined.
Miller said it was also still uncertain if the group who verbally abused the woman were youths at all.
