Vigilante warning over gun allegation

A Whangarei firearms incident has prompted a warning from police that people should not take the law into their own hands.

A 60-year-old Whangarei man has been charged over allegedly pointing a firearm at a group of youths littering his lawn.

Sergeant Graeme Povey told the Northern Advocate five youths were walking along Riverside Drive last week when one of them threw a drink can on to the lawn of a house.

The man confronted the group and some responded by throwing litter on to a neighbour's lawn.

Later when the group returned along the street the man confronted them again and allegedly pointed a firearm at them, Mr Povey said.

When the youths fled, the man followed them in his car, and took photographs of them.

Police were called and found an air rifle.

Mr Povey said people may get frustrated by the actions of others at times but they should never take the law into their own hands. If people had concerns about illegal behaviour by others they should contact the police immediately and not get involved.

The man was charged with unlawfully presenting a firearm and was to appear in Whangarei District Court this week.

- NZPA