A West Auckland family says they have been left disappointed after police closed an investigation into an attempted vehicle theft and assault less than a week after the incident.
The alleged attack happened in Glen Eden on Sunday afternoon when a group of suspected car thieves targeted a vehicle parked outside the family's home.
According to 18-year-old Mia, she noticed her boyfriend's Toyota Wish being tampered with while taking rubbish outside. She immediately alerted her boyfriend and father, who ran to confront those involved, as reported by Stuff.
According to a report by Stuff, Mia said four people fled from the vehicle towards a waiting silver sedan parked across the road. As one person attempted to get out of the passenger side, her father tried to stop him by shutting the door.
“There was still a lone person in the passenger side, and as he was getting out, my dad tried to shut the door on him, to try to lock him inside or something, but then he managed to escape, and then he hit my dad on the head with some weapon,” she told Stuff, as quoted by Stuff.
She described the group as teenagers or young adults dressed in black with their hoods pulled up.
“I didn't really get a good look at their faces,” she said.
Police confirmed they received a report of an attempted vehicle theft and an alleged assault outside the property at about 5.30pm on 5 July.
However, by Thursday morning, police advised that they had “exhausted all lines of enquiry, and at this stage the matter has been filed”. They added that investigations could be reopened if new information becomes available, Stuff has reported.
Although her father escaped serious injury, Mia said the incident was distressing for the family.
“I wasn't really prepared for it because I didn't think that anything like that would happen so fast,” she said.
“I feel like there was no need to assault him because he could have just run away.
“It was quite sad to see and also frustrating that I guess there's no justice,” as quoted by Stuff.
The incident has prompted the family to reconsider how they park their vehicles and raised concerns about safety in their neighbourhood.
“Although I had low expectations in the thieves being caught, I'm still quite annoyed and frustrated knowing these people are walking free and will likely continue to ruin other people’s lives,” she said, as quoted by Stuff.