Theft victims warned off ransom deals

Police are concerned about people dealing with criminals to recover stolen property.

Christchurch car-yard operator Fred Merkin this week paid a $5000 "ransom" for the return of a rally car once used by Possum Bourne.

Last year, a Paul Dibble sculpture was returned to a Waikanae restaurant after a "cloak and dagger" operation involving a $10,000 ransom.

Police were not told of the transaction until it had been completed.

Police spokesman Jon Neilson said officers should always be contacted if a ransom demand was made, for safety reasons.

"We suggest people don't pay it. They need to be in touch with us because we need to be aware of the fact a ransom's being asked.

"That artwork in Waikanae was an example of where the police were not very happy - and quite rightly - that they weren't made aware of it because people paying the ransom don't know who they're dealing with either," he said. "The police reaction to that was pretty much as expected - we need to be in on it and we strongly urge people not to deal directly with people seeking ransom."

Police do not keep statistics on ransom demands. They are recorded under "intimidation and threats" or "kidnapping and abduction".

Statistics for both categories show a slight drop in recorded occurrences between 2002 and last year.

- NZPA