Hamilton Police are crediting members of the public who stepped up to be counted for the arrest of three teenagers and the identifying of a fourth in relation to two separate incidents yesterday morning.
In the first incident, City Tactical Coordinator, Senior Sergeant Freda Grace, said a Clarkin Rd resident noticed two teenage males acting suspiciously and phoned 111.
"Crucially the woman took down an accurate description of the boys and was able to pass it on to a responding Police patrol.
"Officers carrying out area searches located two males who matched the boys' descriptions and on approaching them the pair fled. A Constable chased down one offender on foot and arrested him but the second offender was seen on a property above them up a bank. He stole a bike from that address and made his escape but we are following up positive lines of enquiry in locating him."
Ms Grace said as a result of the local residents actions a 17-year-old man has been charged with burglary of a Clarkin Rd home and Police are working to establish the origin of property recovered at an address the pair had fled to.
"It may be the case that we have recovered items from another burglary that has yet to be reported."
While this was going on officers in the west of the City were responding to a call from a second member of the public who rang to report a vehicle acting suspiciously in Dinsdale.
"The vehicle's description was relayed to responding staff who located the car on Whatawhata Rd, as they were pulling the Toyota Corolla over a report came through the car had been stolen from a Hamilton East home two nights earlier.
"As a result two males, aged 17 and 19-years-old have been arrested. Interestingly the keys for the car had been taken in a burglary from a home last week while the occupants were away on holiday. It appears the offenders have returned this week with the keys and taken the victims' car."
Ms Grace said there were a couple of things abundantly clear from the two incidents.
"Firstly the value of local residents taking ownership of their neighbourhoods, it makes all the difference for responding Police when information on people's or vehicle's descriptions is provided in an accurate and timely manner.
"The second is the need to secure your valuables while you're away. If you own a second vehicle consider taking the spare keys away with you or give them to a trusted person to secure in your absence. Yesterday's arrests highlight the benefits of the Police and community working together to prevent crime."
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