Boy, 12, praised over arrest of alleged sex offender

Photo / APN

Police are praising the actions of a 12-year-old boy whose vigilance led to the arrest of an alleged sex offender on Auckland's North Shore yesterday.

Browns Bay police have been investigating recent reports of a man "acting lewdly" in front of school girls in the area of Sunrise Ave, in Murrays Bay.

Police said on the morning of September 2, the offender parked his car on Sunrise Ave and then proceeded to do an indecent act while a 13-year-old girl was walking past.

The young girl was said to have been left feeling revolted, scared and unsure what to do, and later reported the incident to her school.

Police received a breakthrough in their enquiries when a student from the same school observed a male driving slowly down Sunrise Ave past a group of women.

The boy noted down the partial plate number, make and model of the vehicle and gave police an "excellent" description of the driver.

A 32-year-old man will appear in the North Shore District Court next Wednesday on three charges of committing an indecent act.

The man is not a New Zealand resident and was previously unknown to Police.

Police believe the offender is responsible for a number of other offences that have not been reported.

Anyone who has witnessed other similar incidents in the Sunrise Ave area should call police on 09 353 0410 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

- NZHERALD STAFF