NYPD believes abduction to be hoax

NEW YORK, April 1 (UPI) -- An abduction of a New York City couple was a hoax and was part of a surprise birthday party, police said Monday.

A group of men were seen Friday evening forcing a young woman and a man into a minivan in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood and speeding away, CNN reported.

Police were called to the scene where witnesses said three men were waiting in the minivan and forced the victims in at gunpoint.

However, New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said Monday the abduction "may have been a hoax staged amongst friends to celebrate one of their birthdays."

He said there were no missing person reports made in the area the abduction took place in.