Update to the Palmerston North Incident
Update to the Palmerston North Incident
Attributable to Inspector Sarah Stewart, Manawatu Area Commander:
Firstly, Police would like to reiterate that Shekinah is now safe and with her family who are relieved to have her back.
Police are continuing to support Shekinah and her family, and will work with them while we continue our investigations
Understandably, police need to make sure we respect the privacy of the family, and ensure their welfare due to the young age of Shekinah.
Police will not be saying anything further on Shekinah, apart from to say she is safely back with her family.
Police would like to reassure the community that we have an experienced and capable team of over 30 officers and detectives who have been working, and will continue to work, on this incident.
We’d like to thank the public for their support so far and we ask for their continued help in order to locate the male and the vehicle involved.
Situations like this very rarely occur in New Zealand and we are thankful Shekinah has been found safe by a member of the public.
In terms of what has occurred this morning, Shekinah was pulled into a white vehicle by a male at approximately 8.30am today while she was walking to school on Shamrock Street* with two others.
When police were alerted, we launched a number of area searches across the Palmerston North area, which included aerial support.
Shortly after 11.00am, Police received a phone call from a member of the public in Hind Place who reported Shekinah had been dropped off in the area and found by another member of the public.
Police have not yet identified the male or the make/model of the vehicle he was driving, apart from confirmation that the vehicle was a white sedan.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who saw a male driving a white sedan in the Shamrock Street surrounds at approximately 8.30am this morning, and then again in the Hind Place surrounds at approximately 11.00am today.
Those people who live in the area may have noticed this male or vehicle as it could have seemed out of place.
Police are very keen to hear from anyone in the wider Hind Place area who may have seen Shekinah being dropped off by man in a white vehicle.
People would have noticed a 5 year-old being left by herself on the side of the road.
Anyone with information can contact their local police station.
Information can also be provided anonymously via the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS