Police at the scene of the shooting. Photo: RNZ / Bill Hickman
A man has been shot in the legs trying to stop people breaking into vehicles in Porirua.
On Tuesday morning armed police stood watch over a cordoned off area in front of a two-storey home on a street in Tītahi Bay.
Investigators could be seen on their hands and knees searching the grass in a cordoned-off area in front of a single-storey home.
Further up the street officers were going door to door talking to residents.
Rachel Mariu who has lived on the street for 10 years said she heard the sound of at least four shots "in quick succession" at about 10.15 pm.
She told her children they were fireworks to calm them down, and locked her doors and windows.
Mariu said she heard footsteps "running full force" down the street minutes after the shots.
"We're all a bit of a tight-knit community, we all know each other's kids, so yeah, we were all, like, kind of on edge last night knowing that, you know, we've all got families."
Police at the scene of a shooting in Titahi Bay, Porirua. Photo: Reece Baker / RNZ
Her children went to school with tamariki who lived at the home at the centre of the shooting, she said.
"I knew straight away where it came from, so I was like, 'Oh, these poor babies, poor whānau'."
Mariu said car theft and break-ins were a constant worry in the area.
The incident took place on Monday night and police are appealing for information.
In a statement, police said officers were called to a Dimock Street address at about 10.20pm, with initial inquiries suggesting "the man was shot after disturbing two people attempting to break into cars on the street".
Police at the scene of a shooting in Titahi Bay, Porirua. Photo: Reece Baker / RNZ
He was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
A man who did not want to be named - living adjacent to the property - said he was shocked that firearms were involved.
He said the family involved were good neighbours and he would speak to them on the street when he came across them.
Peter - another resident living nearby - said he heard the shots but thinking it was fireworks "thought nothing of it".
He said his car had been broken into a couple of times on the street and his partner's car had been stolen.
The shooting would make him think twice about confronting anyone interfering with vehicles in the area.
"Some people are a bit crazy. Sometimes it's a bit better to just leave them be and let the insurance sort it out. I hope they catch them," he said.
Police ask that anyone with information call 105 and quote file number 241029/7050.
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