Police close in on caravan attack youths

Dunedin police say they are closing in on a group of youths who terrorised an elderly couple in a campervan during the weekend.

the couple, believed to be in their 70s, were asleep at Warrington Domain, north of Dunedin, early on Saturday morning when a group of youths surrounded their campervan and began rocking it, the Otago Daily Times reported.

David McLaren and his partner Norma Hart were staying nearby and were woken by shouting. Mr McLaren went to the couple's aid while Ms Hart phoned police.

About 18 young men and women were kicking the sides and windows of the campervan, throwing bottles at it and at least one on person jumped on the roof while another hung from the door. A bottle was thrown through a window, showering the woman in glass.

"The man told us he tried to back the van out to get away from them and accidentally nicked one of the group's cars and that was what set them off," Mr McLaren told the newspaper.

The youths left, but before police arrived one carload returned and began searching the ground, telling Mr McLaren they were searching for a lost dog.

"I started to have a look around, too, and saw a cellphone. That's what they were looking for, I'm sure. Who looks for a dog at 1.30 in the morning?"

Police arrived and escorted the couple back to their home in Mosgiel

Mr McLaren gave them the cellphone and registrations from two of the group's cars.

Constable Greg Park said "very strong evidence" had been collected, including fingerprints and they were closing in on the group. The phone's owner would be identified along with those who had been called from it.

"We are pursuing this investigation with vigour.

"If the offenders don't come forward, we will be throwing the book at them."

- NZPA