Two men appeared Taumarunui Court today (Saturday, 19 June) following the invasion of the home of a man with disabilities in Taumarunui.
The incident occurred around 8pm on Monday, 7 June, at Manaaki Trust, in Para Street, Taumarunui. A group of men broke into the self-contained residential unit of the 59-year-old victim, held him down with a blanket over his head and threatened him with violence.
Early yesterday morning Police executed a search warrant at an address in Taumarunui where they recovered property believed stolen during the home invasion. Later in the day a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, both from the town, were arrested without incident and later charged with burglary and aggravated robbery.
Detective Sergeant Rob Savage said: "News of this home invasion outraged the community and we had an amazing public response to appeals. Some of the information we received led us to stolen property and five offenders that were completely unrelated to the Para Street offence we were investigating. To now recover some of the items stolen from our disabled victim is the icing on the cake. It just goes to prove what can be achieved when the Police and community work together."
Some items of property are still missing and Police are still seeking other offenders in relation to the Para Street home invasion.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Rob Savage at Taumarunui Police on 07 895 8119. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.