FYI - Individual asking for money around Park Ave/Naenae Shopping Centre Area

Sarahlee from Naenae

My sister and I were approached a few weeks back by an individual who claimed that he had a family funeral to get too and that he had a ride that would pick him up from the Haywards but he needed a ride to the Haywards. He then said that he had a "Maori fella" that would give him a ride to the Haywards, he just needs to give him $20 petrol. He claimed that he had $2 currently so just needed $18 more. He said that he would provide some seafood to pay you back. My sister ended up giving him $20.
Since then, I have seen him around Naenae and the Park Ave area - as soon as the next day (which told me that his story was not true) but he hadn't asked me for more money.
Last week, my Mum and I returned to Park Ave and my Mum went into the take-aways which is the old KFC place. She was waiting for our order when the individual walked in and said hello to another guy sitting in there. My Mum had been talking to this guy before hand so she took notice. The individual said to the guy in the store that he needed $19 because his car was at the Haywards and it was out of gas and he would pay the guy back with some weed. He then asked my Mum if the young guy was with her and she responded "No" and then she said to him that he had said a similar story to her 2 daughters a few weeks back, he then responded with an address (Seddon St) and then left the shop and ran off towards the small area of shops in Park Ave. When we drove down Seddon St, the address he gave seemingly belonged to the Cricket Club.

So because this happened twice that we know of, we figured we would put a post here to let people know to be aware of this individual. He is a young Maori man about 5'7, early 20s, medium build, short hair and some facial hair. He was polite when he approached us, we weren't scared or intimidated. However it seems he is being dishonest and trying to coax people out of money.