"Two arrests in Te Awamutu burglaries"

Waikato Police have made two arrests in relation to a spate of burglaries and thefts in the Te Awamutu area earlier this week, including the burglary at the Te Awamutu Police Station on Tuesday night.

A 24 year-old male was arrested on Thursday and has been remanded in custody.

He will be facing a range of dishonesty charges including five counts of burglary and four of unlawful interference with a motor vehicle.

Following his arrest on Thursday, Police today went on to execute three search warrants at addresses in Te Awamutu and Hamilton.

As a result, a 22 year-old female has been arrested and charged with receiving stolen goods.

Police have also recovered the majority of stolen Police uniform taken in the burglary on Tuesday night including stab resistant body armour, two batons, OC spray, handcuffs, a police identity card and various items of police uniform.

Waikato Police are still appealing to the public for any information about the location of the outstanding Police items, two shirts and a police tunic.

Anyone with information should call Police on (07) 858 6200 or report via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“We would like to thank the public for their assistance in this investigation.

It was as a direct result of information from the public about suspicious behaviour in the Te Awamutu township that Police were able to apprehend the male offender,” says Area Commander Inspector Naila Hassan.

"I would also like to thank our police staff who have worked tirelessly to apprehend this offender who has caused so much harm to our community in Te Awamutu over the space of a few days.

I am very proud of them."

“I would like to reassure the community that we believe this spate of burglaries was committed by one recidivist offender and the spike in offending has abated since his arrest.

“However, this serves as a timely reminder to all members of the public to be vigilant about security and to report any unusual or suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhoods to Police," says Inspector Hassan.

As the matter is now before the courts Police is unable to comment further.

ENDS

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