Featherston abduction fears raised online

Anyone with information about a reported incident involving a stranger in a van approaching a young girl in the street last week can contact police on 06 3700378 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Featherston youngsters are being warned to be wary of strangers after a man driving a van approached a 15-year-old girl last week.

Featherston Community Board member Peter Jackson said a Pakeha male driving a large white van with tinted windows pulled up alongside the girl on Daniell St, and asked her "do you live around this area?" and "if she liked money?".

Mr Jackson said the girl recognised the danger and immediately ran towards the main street, where her friends were.

The van is then understood to have turned around and fled at speed down Daniell St.

The man was described as "possibly" in his early 20s with short brown hair.

Mr Jackson said the girl's mother was concerned "as any mother would naturally be" and had contacted him and police.

"In this case the girl did all the right things. If you haven't already done so, and with the school holidays approaching, now is a very good time to have a chat to your children about stranger danger, and what to do in the event of something like this." It is understood Featherston schools had been warned.

Anyone with information can contact police on 06 3700378 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.