Man in car scares West Auckland schoolgirls

A block of shops on Swanson Road, Ranui, where two boys were allegedly spoken to by a man who wanted one of them to hop in his car. Photo / Nick Reed

Two West Auckland school girls have reported frightening encounters with a man in a car as police continue to hunt for the man who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy.

On Wednesday afternoon, an intermediate-aged girl was reportedly asked to get in a man's car on Summerland Drive, Henderson and a 17-year-old girl was followed by a dark coloured ute on nearby Lake Panorama Drive.

Police are investigating the reports.

The 17-year-old took a photo of the ute she believed was following her, and it has been posted to social media.

The reports come a fortnight after an 11-year-old boy was abducted by a stranger on his way from the Ranui Train Station and sexualy assaulted before being dropped back near his home four hours later.

The victim has been too traumatised to speak of his horrific ordeal, so few details are known about the offender.

Police have said the boy was taken after a man in a grey van stopped to ask him for directions.

Six days later, on November 23, an 11-year-old girl reportedly fled a man driving a dark red or maroon 4X4 at 8.30am while she waited for a school bus on Wairere Rd, Waitakere.

The next day, a man asked two 12-year-old boys walking home from school to get in his dark-coloured ute on Swanson Rd in Ranui.

A woman close to the 17-year-old girl involved in Wednesday's incident said the teen was "very shaken up".

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said the man - described as European and aged in his 30s - was parked by the Lake Panorama Drive playground.

He followed the girl and tried to "cut her off", but drove away when she pulled out her mobile phone to take a photo, she said.

An email sent to families of the intermediate-aged girl's school said she had caught a bus to the Palamino shops in Henderson and began walking along Summerland Drive.

"A student was approached by a man in a vehicle who told her to get into his car.

"The student did all the right things by running away from the vehicle and seeking help."

The school was unable to be reached for comment tonight.

Anyone with information should call police on 021 191 2659, or the anonymous tip line Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.