Alleged Waikato kidnappers arrested

Police have arrested two men who allegedly stopped a car in Waikato and beat and kidnapped the driver for cash.

The victim was driving on Gordonton Rd, towards Hamilton on October 1, when he crashed into a car that did an illegal U-turn front of his vehicle, Detective Inspector Russell Le Prou said.

When he checked if the occupants of the other car were hurt he was set upon by a group of men armed with softball bats.

They beat him, took his A™ cards, then held him at a nearby property while others drove off to take $1300 from his bank account.

The victim was told the group took the money as a form of reparation or "anger money" before they released him, Mr Le Prou said.

"They seem to have been quite brazen about it, even informing their victim there were no hard feelings and that they were in the business of selling car parts should he want to repair his vehicle."

Officers from the armed offenders squad executed two search warrants in Taupiri and Morrinsville, because of the need to stamp out serious, unprovoked, violent behaviour, Mr Le Prou said.

The alleged offenders were due to appear in the Hamilton District Court this afternoon, jointly charged with kidnapping.

Further arrests and charges were likely, Mr Le Prou said.

- NZPA