A meter-reader who was attacked and had his car stolen was helped by passing motorists as he lay bloodied in a Kihikihi street, a resident says.
Emergency services were called to the township south of Te Awamutu at 4.35pm on Thursday and the injured man remained in critical condition in Waikato Hospital on Friday.
Police say he had been carrying out meter readings on Oliver Street and that his stolen car was later found ablaze.
A Kihikihi resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says he 'did not hear a thing” but spotted the man on the way to a neighbour's house.
He looked 'pretty bad, blood all over him”, the resident says.
'Two utes stopped to help him, and one of the guys called the emergency services and held the man down till the ambulance arrived.
The injured man was conscious but had enough blood on him that 'I would not recognise him if I saw him again”, the resident says.
This red Daihatsu Terios was taken from the meter-reader and later found ablaze. Police are looking for sightings. Photo: New Zealand Police.
The resident says it was good community and quiet area.
'I have never seen anything like this before [in the area].”
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders says a red Daihatsu Terios was stolen from the injured man in Oliver Street.
It was later found on fire on Kawhia Road, near the turnoff to State Highway 39 south of Pirongia.
Police believe the person or people who stole the man's vehicle were also responsible for the man's injuries.
They want to hear from anyone who saw the Terios between 4.30pm and 6pm on Thursday, or a silver Nissan Primera, registration DHA220, at any time on Thursday.
Police were door-knocking in the Oliver St area on Friday afternoon and a statement said a scene examination was under way on Friday as they worked to establish what happened.
Police are also looking for information on this a silver Nissan Primera, registration DHA220 after an attack on a meter-reader in Waikato. Photo: New Zealand Police.
The investigation team would like to hear from anyone who was in the Oliver Street area around the time the man was located injured, or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage.
If you can help, contact Police via the 105 phone service or online at police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report, referencing file number 230105/8487.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
4 comments
Is thuggery increasing?
Posted on 07-01-2023 13:12 | By morepork
Or is coverage of it getting better? Either way, senseless crimes of violence like this need to be met with firm resolve by the community. SOMEBODY knows who did this and should give their information to Police, anonymously if necessary. The increase in this type of crime (if tere is actually in increase) may be a reflection of people just running out of patience with the state of the World at the moment, and frustration with an impotent government that just seems intent on going back to the 19th century.
Is thuggery increasing?
Posted on 07-01-2023 13:12 | By morepork
Or is coverage of it getting better? Either way, senseless crimes of violence like this need to be met with firm resolve by the community. SOMEBODY knows who did this and should give their information to Police, anonymously if necessary. The increase in this type of crime (if tere is actually in increase) may be a reflection of people just running out of patience with the state of the World at the moment, and frustration with an impotent government that just seems intent on going back to the 19th century.
@ morepork..........
Posted on 07-01-2023 22:58 | By groutby
....the simple answer is ...yes it is...I can't say I have the answer or indeed the reason, but until we as a society actually give a thought for each other then we really haven't a chance....there are few rules governing society and even if there were, little enforcement of them. Weak government and such influential social media for the gullible would be my bet for a start...........
@Groutby
Posted on 08-01-2023 13:41 | By morepork
Thanks for your post. I agree wholeheartedly with what you said is needed, but the jury is still out on whether the figures show increase in violent crime, proportional to the growing population. We'll get a better idea after the coming census. I believe it all comes down to personal responsibility, but the Nanny state has eroded that to the point where people simply feel there is nothing we can do. Kids, at school and at home, are not being taught to take responsibility for their actions; nothing is ever your fault. The end result of this is observable right now. Respect is a thing of the past and I "degraded" a young woman the other day, by opening a door for her... She explained to me that this is not proper behaviour any more. (In my world, people are respected, and manners are still observed.)
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