Auckland police are advising Grindr users to be careful when arranging to meet strangers, after two robberies of men who have met their assailants via the gay hook-up app – one where a man was threatened with a machete. Both robberies happened in Mt Albert, one on 27 February and the other on 7 March. Police say on the first occasion a pleasant, casual meeting turned ugly when one man was physically threatened by another, who then took his mobile phone. The victim managed to negotiate with the offender, giving him money in return for his phone. On March 7, another man arranged to meet another man he had been contacting through Grindr. While sitting in his car waiting to meet the man, someone opened his car door, threatened him with a machete and took his cell phone. The man is described as Maori or Polynesian, of medium muscular build and about 5'9" - 5'11". Police say it's possible he had half sleeve tattoos on both arms. In one incident he was wearing a red cap, white t-shirt, cream coloured shorts, white socks and white Converse sneakers. Detective Constable Laura Hadwen says it's possible there are other victims who have not reported incidents to police. "We encourage all victims of crime to contact police. If we don't know about offences, we can't investigate them,” she says. “I'd urge Grindr users to put their personal safety ahead of anything else and, if they are offended against, to contact police as soon as possible with as much information about the offender as possible." Anyone who has information should contact Detective Constable Hadwen on 021 927 812 or email laura.hadwen@police.govt.nz
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 26th March 2015 - 4:58pm