Police Snippets

 

Gang arrest
A Head Hunters member was arrested in the early hours of May 17, after a police pursuit from Mangawhai to Langs Beach. The man was reported to police as acting suspiciously in Mangawhai Heads. He was located in Mangawhai village but took flight, driving over Cove Road and onto the beach at Langs, where he was detained. Charges include breach of a protection order, driving dangerously and failing to stop.

Lost items
Two items have been handed into police recently. A large carving knife was found at Kapawiti Road, Mangawhai and a fisherman’s jacket was left on Cove Road. Please contact local police with any information regarding the owners.

GAS ram raid
Mangawhai Go GAS station on Moir Street was the target of a ram-raid on June 4. At 4.15am security cameras recorded a Honda Civic ramming the front doors of the building. The two occupants of the car then attempted to break open the cigarette cage but fled the scene empty handed.

“The attempt occurred right after the government announced the price increase of cigarette prices,” Mangawhai Senior Constable Graham Gough says.

The Honda was reported ‘unlawfully taken’ from a Warkworth address and was later found abandoned on Hudson Road, Warkworth. Enquiries are continuing.

A number of attempted ram-raids on Four Squares and petrol stations in Warkworth, Wellsford and around Northland have occurred recently with thieves appearing to target the cigarette supply.

Two males and a female were arrested on June 7 after a short pursuit in relation to a raid in Whangarei and Gough says some of the raids are ‘undoubtedly linked’.

Check visitors genuine
Mangawhai police want to remind people to be cautious regarding official visitors to their own homes and houses of their neighbours.

“Don’t be impressed by people wearing high-vis gear,” Senior Constable Graham Gough says. “Don’t take visitors at face value. Ask for ID and if you are suspicious, refuse entry, take note of the car registration and call the police.”

The call comes after an incident recently in Mangawhai when an individual called the police regarding a visitor to their home who did not have clear ID. Police enquiries showed the visitor was who he said he was, but say it is also a reminder for official visitors to clearly identify themselves with proper ID.

Stolen car arrest
A 29-year-old Auckland woman was arrested on June 6 after police received more than eight complaints regarding her erratic and dangerous driving while heading up Highway 16. Mangawhai Constable Dale Wewege was part of the police operation to track the driver of the car down after several police officers witnessed the reckless speed of the car and decided a pursuit could increase the danger to other motorists. The brand new 2016 RAV4 valued at $35,000 – reported stolen from an Auckland car yard – was eventually found abandoned on Mangakura Wharf with minor damage. The woman was subsequently arrested and faces multiple charges including illegal entry, dangerous driving, burglary and possession of a P pipe.

- REPORTING/Julia Wade