Police search for suspicious prowler with socks on hands

Photo / Youtube

Police are looking for a mystery sock-wearing man caught on camera behaving suspiciously around cars while wearing socks on his hands and feet.

Porirua police were alerted to the man's behaviour after a resident recorded footage of him on a video he had installed in his driveway in Papakowhai and posted it on YouTube.

The man is wanted in connection with a car stolen from Papakowhai and there has been a "spate of burglaries and car thefts in the Porirua district", said Constable Dwight Agate.

On the video, taken overnight on January 17, the sock-wearing man is seen wandering between three cars parked in the Kinloch Place driveway.

He looks at the cars before opening the door of one and getting into the driver's. He emerges empty-handed and walks back down the driveway.

Porirua police have posted the video on their Facebook page and asked for public help to identify the man.

On the same night the video was taken a Silver/Gray 1994 Suzuki Vitara with the registration SS1880 was stolen from an address next door, said the Facebook page.

In December, police noticed an increase in thefts from cars parked in driveways of their homes, in particular in the suburbs of Whitby, Papakowhai, Paremata and Mana, it said.

Any information about the sock-wearing man should contact the Porirua police on 04 238 1401 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.