Police desk

Ōtorohanga

Police have attended four family harm incidents in the past week.

September 7

An Ōtorohanga resident complained that their bank account and Airpoints accounts had been accessed by an unknown person. Online hackers removed $779.20 from the bank account and cancelled flight bookings that had been made using the Airpoints account.

“It was quite a malicious thing to do as the victim can receive no refund for the cancelled flights,” police said.

September 8

An Ōtorohanga resident was scammed by a person who advertised they were having a garage sale at a private address in town.

The victim paid $250 for some items, but when they drove to the address to pick up the goods, it was a construction site.

September 9

Police were called after a fracas was reported at a licensed premises in Ōtorohanga. Following the disorder incident, a woman was detained for a mental health assessment.

September 10

At about 1am, police attended a vehicle crash on Old Te Kūiti Rd, in which a 2013 Mazda Atenza left the road, smashed through a fence, continued through a farm paddock, then smashed through a sign and another fence to get back onto the road.

The driver was later stopped by police and an evidential breath test done.

A 29-year-old Hangatiki resident will appear in the Te Kūiti District Court charged with careless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol.

September 11

At 8.43am, police attended a vehicle crash on SH3, south of town, in which a 2001 Mitsubishi Airtrek station wagon allegedly crossed the centreline, colliding with rear of a white Hyundai that was towing a trailer with a 1.7 tonne digger on it.

As a result of the collision, the digger was thrown off the trailer and rolled into a paddock. Inquiries are continuing.

Kāwhia

September 8

A resident of the area reported that their 2003 silver Hyundai Santa Fe had been stolen. The owner of the vehicle heard a noise at about 3am, then heard his vehicle being started up and driven out of his driveway. The vehicle has not been recovered.

At about 10pm, a white 2013 Mazda Atenza travelling on Kāwhia Rd near Hauturu hit a dirt bank after driving over what was thought to be either a pothole or a large rock.

Piopio

September 10

At about 12.24pm, police attended a crash on SH3 near the Eight Mile junction. This involved a 2007 gold Holden Viva and a 2014 Yamaha Mt-O9 motorcycle.

The car was travelling south when it slowed and began indicating to turn right into a driveway.

Police said the rider allegedly attempted to pass several vehicles in a single maneuver, including the Holden.

As the car began to turn the rider attempted to swerve around it, but instead struck its right rear side.

The force of the collision threw him across the top of the vehicle. He was thought to have received a broken left arm and injuries to his right foot and was taken to hospital by ambulance. The three occupants of the car were uninjured.

Te Kūiti

Police attended six family harm incidents.

September 7

At about 3am, a resident of Tawa St woke after hearing noises outside his property. He looked out to see someone moving around by his red 2004 Toyota Hilux.

The resident yelled out, effectively telling the intruders to go away. Two unknown people then ran from the vehicle, which upon inspection had a quarter light window smashed and its ignition damaged.

A resident handed a counterfeit $50 note in at the police station. He had used the note to purchase some groceries at the supermarket, but staff returned it to him once they realised it was counterfeit.

The note has been passed to the police document examination office to be checked.

September 8-9

Overnight, at a water plant on Waitomo Caves Rd, it was discovered that a door had been forced open and some copper wiring stolen.

September 8

At about 11.20pm, a Toyota Hilux was reported stolen from Riverside Ln. As the vehicle was being driven away, the victims chased it in another vehicle and located it stopped nearby by the river. Three men, described as quite likely in their teens, were seen running from the vehicle.

Having logged several reports of car conversions at Te Kūiti, in which three men were seen running away from the vehicle, the King Country News asked police if a trio of car converters was active in town.

Police said: “Evidentially we cannot confirm they were same (people each time), but half a brain says, ‘yes, they are likely to be the same crew’.”

September 9

A Piopio resident who works in Te Kūiti reported that between 7am and 9am, his wallet was stolen from his vehicle while he was at work.

Cards from the wallet were used to purchase about $215 worth of items from three businesses in town, including $142 worth of tobacco. Police want to speak to the occupants of a 2009 silver Mazda Axela seen near the vehicle during the hours the theft took place.

September 10

At about midnight, a 2004 silver Toyota Raum was stolen from Queen St. The vehicle was recovered later the same day with its quarterlight smashed and key barrel damaged, having been dumped at the corner of Esplanade and Tammadge St.

At about 12pm, a Rata St resident reported a rear window on the property had been smashed, but there was no indication the house had been entered.

September 10-11

Overnight on Taupiri St, a 2004

Nissan Teana was reported stolen. It has not been recovered.

Taumarunui

September 5

An internet scam where a large amount of money was taken from a bank account was reported to police.

A window at a motel was deliberately smashed.

September 6

A family harm incident was attended.

September 7

After damaging a door and walls at a local agency, a male was trespassed.

Police arrested a male after a lawnmower was taken from a Manunui property.

A truck hit a building awning on Miriama Street.

September 8

Three family harm incidents were attended.

Police attended an assault at Ōwhango where the victim received moderate injuries.

The driver of a vehicle that was seen to be driving and parking erratically had his licence suspended on medical grounds.

September 9

Three family harm incidents were attended.

Police stopped a vehicle and forbade a driver to drive for a short time after fatigue was identified as the reason for his poor driving.

September 10

A family harm incident was attended.

Four people were arrested after disorder at a local business. A petrol drive-off was reported.

September 11

Three family harm incidents were attended.

At 9am the driver of a vehicle on SH4 was found with a breath alcohol reading of 1370 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.