Wellington Police continue to investigate the fire that damaged the Kiwi Self Storage facility on Rongotai Road in Kilbirnie in the early hours of Friday 4 April 2014.
As a result of the investigation a 34 year-old Johnsonville man will appear in the Wellington District Court today charged with arson in relation to this incident.
Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Ferguson says “It is pleasing to be able provide the large number of victims who have lost many valuable items, both in the monetary and sentimental sense, with the reassurance that someone will be held accountable for this arson."
“A dedicated investigation team has been engaging with our community and collecting information and evidence along the way. As a result, this arrest has been made late yesterday after a search warrant was executed at a Johnsonville address. A vehicle has also been seized that we believe is relevant to the investigation.”
Wellington Police are seeking witnesses who may have seen a 1994 Daihatsu Charade, coloured light blue, in the suburbs of Johnsonville and Kilbirnie (particularly around the storage unit) between 12.00am and 1.00am on Friday 4 April 2014.
The alleged offender has also been captured on CCTV at the self storage unit and it appears that they have changed clothing to avoid detection.
“We continue to seek the public’s assistance with this investigation as I believe they will hold valuable information about the movements of the offender on the night of the fire.”
Wellington Police have set up a dedicated email address for the victims of the fire which is kiwistoragefire@police.govt.nz.
Anyone with any information should contact Wellington Police on (04) 381 2000. Information can also be provided anonymously by contacting the Crimestoppers organisation on 0800 555 111.
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Please note that the CCTV images and a photograph of a vehicle of interest is available from the Police website or by contacting Nick Bohm, Wellington Police District Communications Manager, on 021 192 1816.
