"Thieves arrested thanks to help from the public"

Hawke’s Bay Police have today got three more criminals off the streets thanks to help from a member of the public.

Recently a number of vehicles parked at different parks and recreational areas across the region have been broken into.

The offenders were particularly targeting contactless credit cards which they had then been using to purchase items.

Detective Sergeant Darren Pritchard says Police were particularly concerned by the volume of offending so worked hard to track these criminals down.

“We have been actively looking for a particular vehicle linked to the people behind these offences, and today our appeal to members of the public to keep an eye out for that car proved its worth.”

“At about midday today we received information of a sighting of the Silver Mitsubishi car in Clive,” says Detective Sergeant Pritchard.

“Police signalled for the vehicle to pull over but the driver failed to stop and a short pursuit followed.

"The pursuit was called off soon afterwards but the car was located again by Police a short time later in the Puketapu area and road spikes were deployed.

"The car was then followed into an orchard where two men were quickly arrested by Police and a dog team tracked the third offender who was arrested close by," says Detective Sergeant Pritchard.

Three men from Taupo, aged 20, 35 and 36, will appear in the Hastings District Court on Monday facing a number of charges.

“We really want to thank the members of the public who have assisted us in locating these offenders.

“The person who called in the vehicle sighting today, and the person who provided information following a robbery at the Westshore Dairy in Napier yesterday, have both helped us to prevent more people becoming victims of crime.

“We’re very grateful,” says Detective Sergeant Pritchard.

As this matter is now before the courts Police cannot comment further.

ENDS

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