Police Snippets

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Dead man found
The 57-year-old male who was found deceased at the bottom of the Mangawhai Heads surf beach steps on November 15 was a ‘born and bred’ Mangawhai local who had just returned to the area in the past four months, Senior Constable Graham Gough says.

The man was found by a neighbour at 8am and it appears he collapsed after taking a morning swim. He also sustained minor injuries which may suggest he fell down the stairs.

“There are no suspicious circumstances at this stage” he says. “His death appears to be medically related and is currently in the hands of the coroner.”

 

Arrest after vehicle rammed
A 50-year-old male has been charged with several offences after intentionally ramming into a vehicle at the Mangawhai Tavern on November 9.

Wellsford Police arrested the local man and charged him with wilful damage, assault with weapon and excess of breath and alcohol.

 

Mark your valuables
Police would like to advise owners of Kontiki torpedoes to mark the expensive fishing equipment to help with identifying the devices if they become lost at sea.

“The lines can get cut by passing boats or snagged on rocks but there are some honest people around who hand them in after being found on the beach or floating on the water,” Gough says. “To ensure an easier identification, we’d like owners to mark them in the water-tight compartment.”

 

Vandals smashing spree
Vandals went on a destructive spree in Kaiwaka recently, smashing up to 50 letterboxes on the night of November 6 although police suspect there may be more.

A number of residents along Lupis Way, Settlement Road, Oneriri Road, Wattle Lane and Oruawharo Road, face significant replacement costs and police are keen to find the perpetrators.

Please contact police with any information or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

- REPORTING/Julia Wade

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