Attack prompts police warning

Police are warning against people taking matters into their own hands after a Hamilton resident confronted another man over stolen property and says he was attacked with a baseball bat.

The man says the attacker then produced an air pistol and fired at him, hitting his vehicle, as he was pulling out of his driveway.

Ross William Carkeek appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday after the incident on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old entered no plea to charges of assault using a bat and discharging an airgun with intent to injure.

He is also facing two counts of breaching his home detention orders.

Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson of Hamilton police said officers were called to Carkeek's Fairview Downs home about 8.30pm on Tuesday after reports a man had been assaulted and a shot had been fired.

"It appears that a man has gone to an Alderson St address in a van with the intention of talking to the occupant about some stolen property," Mr Simpson said.

"As our victim entered the property he has been confronted by a man from the house who has struck him with a baseball bat and as he fled his assailant and began reversing his van a shot has been fired which hit the vehicle."

Mr Simpson said members of the Waikato armed offenders squad cordoned off the area around Alderson St and police negotiators were called to the scene and assisted with Carkeek's surrender.

He said that despite the damage to the victim's van, a search of the property failed to locate the firearm.

It is not clear what injuries the victim suffered but Mr Simpson said the incident highlighted the dangers of people taking matters into their own hands.

Carkeek was remanded on bail and is due to reappear in court on May 22.