Mighty effort nabs suspects

A rural Neighbourhood Support group in Eastern district combined forces with local Police in early June to nab three teenagers bent on a trail of offending.

Eastern Highway Patrol staff first became aware of the teens when they spotted their vehicle, without number plates, heading toward Napier on State Highway 5, late on a Saturday.

Staff pursued the car, assisted by Traffic Alcohol Group, but backed off when it hit another vehicle and continued on.

The suspects abandoned their vehicle behind a woolshed and fled on foot. Despite cordons being set up and five hours of Police dog tracking, the trio couldn’t be found.

The rural Neighbourhood Support group was activated and asked to secure their vehicles and property and be on alert for any suspicious activity.

Mid-morning Sunday, as a result of Neighbourhood Support involvement, a rural resident called Police to say three teenagers had been spotted walking along a road.

They had asked another resident for directions to Hastings. Locals kept the group in sight while Police were contacted. The teens were rounded up and spoken to after a very cold night out.

Inquiries revealed the vehicle had been involved in a petrol drive-off from a local service station early on the Saturday, and in Te Puke and Taupō later that day.

Suspicions that the car was unlawfully taken were confirmed when the vehicle owner returned home from a weekend away.

An 18-year-old female has been charged with three counts of theft and her 14 and 16-year-old male companions have been referred to Youth Aid.

Napier Area Commander, Inspector Kevin Kalff, says the outcome “showed the value of functional Neighbourhood Support groups” and “was a great team effort between Police and the rural Neighbourhood Support network”.