Several arrests were made overnight after incidents of terrorist raids at businesses in the Upper North.
Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers says police continue to focus on investigating and preventing the kind of offenses that currently affect a number of communities.
Arrests have been made for recent crimes in the Auckland, Bay Plenty and Waikato regions.
“It’s part of the fantastic work that police officers across the country do every day to respond to theft and bring people to justice,” said Assistant Commissioner Chambers.
The Waikato operation returned $ 100,000 of stolen property:
Two offenders were arrested early tonight after police were called to Square Four on Whitaker Street in Te Aroha at 11.30pm last night after reports of theft.
Upon arrival, police found an allegedly stolen car used to enter the store.
The group of offenders was seen driving away in another allegedly stolen car and then spotted at an address in Waharoa. Three violators were seen fleeing to the address where the property related to the theft was located.
Further investigations led police to another Waharoa address, where officers found two offenders, both men aged 16. The couple was due to appear today at the Hamilton Youth Court.
In order to combat this type of offense, Waikato District Police launched Operation Pryor in February. Since February 1, Waikato police have arrested 80 offenders and returned more than $ 100,000 of stolen property.
A man from Auckland was arrested for elite thefts in March:
In Auckland, meanwhile, police arrested a man following an investigation into a burglary at a Queen Street store last month.
Auckland’s Central Tactical Crimes Division has been investigating the burglary since it took place on March 26th.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested, he has been charged with two counts of stealing property. He is due to appear in Auckland District Court on April 14.
The man’s second charge is related to the alleged theft at a jewelry store on Mount Maunganui on March 19.
Police found a number of items believed to have been stolen from a theft on Mount Maunganui.
Our investigation is ongoing and we cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests.
Community response required:
Assistant Commissioner Chambers says national police intelligence shows that 88 per cent of these offenders are under the age of 20, and most are in fact under the age of 17.
“As a clear problem of youth crime, it is broader than the police,” said Assistant Commissioner Chambers.
“We need our communities to work with us and partner agencies to support young people in a better way.”
Police are also working with communities to give them advice and support on prevention. We are confident that we are making gains to combat this crime in communities.
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Issued by the Police Media Center
