Petrol allegedly thrown outside souvenir shop

A man is helping police with their inquiries after he allegedly threw petrol outside an Auckland souvenir shop today following the towing of his car from a nearby carpark.

The incident happened at Best Souvenirs in Hobson Street just after 10.30am.

Best Souvenirs operations manager Kuiyi Zhao said he was terrified when the man showed him a five litre can of petrol and threw it outside the shop.

"He had been swearing at us because we had reported that his car was parked illegally in our customer carpark next door and it had been towed away. He showed us the tank of petrol and he was walking around with a cigarette.

"I didn't concentrate on what he was saying. I just called the police straight away," Mr Zhao said.

Senior Sergeant Martin Brown confirmed a man was helping with inquiries.

- NZPA