Northumbria Police are carrying out enquiries after reports that a man was encouraged to get into the boot of a vehicle by a group of men in West Denton.
A member of the public contacted police at approximately 21:30 on Wednesday 11 August 2021 to report the suspicious incident in the car park of the Comfort House Residential Home on Middlegate.
They described four white men aged in their 20s having a discussion with a male who then appeared to voluntarily get into the boot of a black Vauxhall Astra.
That vehicle then left the area but nobody has contacted police to report they had been victim of a crime.
Detectives are carrying out enquiries to identify the man who got into the boot and are now asking anyone who may have information about the incident to get in touch.
Detective Superintendent Michael Barton, of Northumbria Police, said:
"It is not clear whether those involved in this incident were known to each other. We have not had any reports from a possible victim but what has been described to us by the member of the public has caused some concern. Our priority is to ensure the welfare of the man who got into the boot and to establish whether any criminal offences have taken place."
Detective Superintendent Barton, concluded:
"We would ask anyone who may have witnessed what happened, or who potentially knows those involved, to come forward and report that information to police. You can do that by contacting us directly, or reporting it anonymously through CrimeStoppers. Our priority is the welfare of the man in question."
If you can assist police then report it online at the Northumbria Police website, or call 101, quoting reference log number NP-20210811-0980.
You can also report information, anonymously, by calling independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.