Source: New Zealand Police
Police have caught up with a group of young people likely involved in a wave of vehicle crime across parts of Auckland.
Frontline units deployed across the North Shore and west Auckland in the early hours of this morning.
It all began just before 3.30am in Hillcrest.
Inspector Jason Edwards, of Waitematā Police, says a member of the public reported vehicles being interfered with on Stanaway Street.
“We received reports that vehicles parked on the street were being interfered with by a group of males before they fled in another vehicle,” he says.
“Units quickly responded into the area and enquiries began to locate this group.”
Four vehicles had been interfered with by the group, and Police also located an ignition barrel on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Police Eagle helicopter was watching as a group of young people abandoned a stolen vehicle in Massey around half an hour later.
Inspector Edwards says they were seen trying on foot walking onto Zefiro Drive.
“Ground units were directed to their location with all five quickly taken into custody,” he says.
“We have established this group had just been travelling with two stolen vehicles in tandem, before colliding with each other on the Royal Road offramp.
“They abandoned one vehicle and had carried on a short distance.”
Those arrested are aged between 13 and 16.
Four males have been charged with unlawfully getting into a vehicle and will appear in the Waitākere Youth Court today.
Inspector Edwards says the group is also being spoken to in relation to other vehicle crime across west Auckland and the North Shore.
“This is an outstanding result for Police and our community,” he says.
“I would like to acknowledge all the frontline teams from the North Shore and Henderson, as well as our Crime Squad that responded this morning.”
Police continue to ask the community to report suspicious activity in their neighbourhood.
“Police acknowledge the vigilant member of the public for reporting the suspicious activity in the first instance,” he says.
“We know that stolen vehicles are used to commit further offending against the community, so to be able to disrupt this group is a great outcome.”
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police