On the Beat
King Country Police have had a productive week, successfully locating several people who were actively avoiding authorities.
Chris Aspin
Local staff were actively searching for a 31-year-old male in Ōtorohanga last week. He was in breach of bail and had warrants for his arrest. Rather than front up and resolve his matters, he chose to evade police, making his situation worse. Staff conducted checks at associated addresses and observed him running through residential properties and bush areas around Mountain View Road. He was located and arrested without incident at an address in Hamilton the following day.
A 40-year-old male has been summoned to court following a shoplifting incident in Te Kuiti. He was also served with a trespass notice.
A 33-year-old male with active warrants was arrested in Auckland during a family harm incident. This individual had been committing offences in the Benneydale-Waitomo area and actively avoiding police. He now faces 20 active charges, including multiple burglaries, escaping custody, and receiving stolen property. Bail was opposed, and he has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance in February.
Police attended a rural Ōtorohanga address to locate a 35-year-old male wanted for breach of bail and a recent rural theft. After being told he was under arrest, he attempted to flee but was apprehended following a foot chase involving the dog unit. He now faces further charges and has been remanded in custody.
Police responded to a crash on Rora Street, Te Kūiti, where a driver failed to stay in their lane, resulting in a high-impact collision with an oncoming vehicle. Thankfully, no major injuries were reported. However, it was concerning to find several young children in the at-fault vehicle who were not properly restrained.
We are investigating an increase in local car thefts in the Ōtorohanga and Te Kuiti areas. A common trend is vehicles with keys left inside are being stolen. Our advice: always lock your vehicle and remove keys, park in well-lit areas, ensure cameras and sensor lights are working, and report incidents directly to police rather than via social media, as delays can occur when we learn of matters second-hand.
As always thanks for your support and continue to report crime and suspicious activity.
