Man makes up mugging story after wallet lost

A 38-year-old beneficiary made up a story about being mugged rather than admit losing his wallet.

Hastings police launched a hunt for three teenagers after the man claimed that he was attacked and robbbed as he walked along Lyndon Road East to Hastings town centre, around 10.30am yesterday.

The hunt was called off after the man walked into a police station yesterday afternoon and confessed he had made up the story.

Detective Jude Hill told The Dominion Post the man "looking a bit sheepish" decided to come clean.

He thought he would be compensated by Work and Income if the wallet had been stolen in a robbery.

"He has been officially warned," she said.

- NZPA