AOS callout suspected hoax

The armed offenders squad carried out extensive searches of houses in the area. Photo / File

Police are investigating whether a call about a carload of armed Mongrel Mob members which sparked an AOS callout and evacuation of Napier residents for two hours yesterday was a prank.

Marewa residents reported being detained at cordons and having AOS members in their gardens after a 9am emergency call reported gang members wielding guns.

A police spokesman said the armed offenders squad carried out extensive searches of houses in the area but nothing was found.

Roadblocks were in place on surrounding streets and residents were seen leaving their houses in dressing gowns.

"It didn't seem to be the job we thought it might have been," the spokesman said.

"We didn't get the people that we thought were there. We are not sure [if it was a prank call] ... but it is possible."

Resident Keri Campbell said armed police had been crouching in her front garden.

"We had the AOS squad in our front yard and a few more across the road and next door" she said. "They were just watching a house but they were there for a while."

Karla Jurczakowski said she and her children were stranded at a police cordon as AO05-07-2012 08:02:34S members carried out their searches.