Security beefed up at Wellington university hall after student allegedly kidnapped, assaulted and robbed

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Additional security measures will remain in place at Te Puni Village hall in Kelburn after a student was allegedly kidnapped.

Three men allegedly snuck into a Wellington university hall using a stolen swipe card, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed a student.

Security has now been beefed up at Te Puni Village in the suburb of Kelburn, following the incident about 3.30pm on Tuesday, which resulted in three arrests and nearly 20 charges being laid.

According to an email sent to Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) students living at the hall, three men who were not residents and were known to the victim allegedly gained unauthorised access to the hall using a stolen swipe card, which has since been cancelled.

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Two people were injured in the incident on Tuesday afternoon. The university says students are being offered support.

Police allege the victim was kidnapped, assaulted and robbed.

A police spokesman said two people sustained minor injuries during the incident.

Three men, aged 19, 24 and 38 have been charged with burglary, kidnapping, threatening to kill, aggravated robbery, intent to injure and common assault.

The 19-year-old was also charged with supply of cannabis.

Security has been beefed up at the hall, according to the email to students and their families, which said all students involved were safe and being supported.

“This will continue for the foreseeable future. Students have been advised of additional security arrangements … It was a rapidly unfolding situation, and our first priority was to ensure that all students immediately affected were safe and were supported by appropriate services,” the email said.

An incident management team was set up by the university on Tuesday night and an investigation was underway to identify any improvements that could be made to systems and processes, including security, the email said.

“Police are confident that this was an opportunistic, isolated incident and not a targeted attack on the hall of residence,” the email said.

Support was available at the hall and on campus today.

A Victoria University of Wellington spokeswoman said the university was working closely with police and was unable to make further comment other than that students were being supported.