Police unimpressed with stag-night abduction prank

Police have yet to decide if a group of men will be charged after their stag-night abduction prank in Auckland sparked a six-hour police investigation yesterday.

The unsuspecting groom was walking along Tamaki Drive in Auckland's Mission bay at 3pm, when witnesses said they saw a maroon Mitsubishi van race up, three men in balaclavas jump out and drag the man into the van before screeching off.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Benefield said people reported the alleged abduction at about 3.30pm.

Mr Benefield said up to 10 operational staff and six investigators immediately launched an investigation.

"Gut feeling was that it sounded like a prank, but people have been raped and shops have been robbed and witnesses said they thought it was just a joke and they do nothing about it," he said.

Six hours later, Mr Benefield said police received a telephone call from a woman who said her brother had organised the prank abduction as part of a stag-night party.

Mr Benefield said he had spoken to the fiance and she was shocked and embarrassed by the incident.

"Maybe the wedding's off? I don't know," he said.

Police were still deciding whether or not to charge the men involved.

He said there were six altogether -- five, plus the victim -- "well he's not a victim, but he is getting married."

They told police they had a sign on the side of the van that read "This is a stag-night taxi", but Mr Benefield said people obviously didn't have time to read it as the van sped off.

One witness told police all he saw was a man being bundled into a van and taken way.

At the time of the incident there was a burglary and a vehicle accident involving a stolen car in the same area.

"Staff were pushed all over the place," he said.

"It's just very annoying. Common sense would have been to contact the police and tell them this was happening."

The men could face fines for the investigation costs involved.

- NZPA