West Auckland Police say the recovery of a stolen Subaru Legacy and the arrest of five teenagers at Muriwai on Saturday was entirely due to the valuable assistance provided by the local community and others in the area.
Police were patrolling in Kumeu at about 7.00am on Saturday 11 November 2006 when a Subaru Legacy with five occupants failed to stop. The vehicle was identified as stolen.
Police pursued the vehicle north along the beach to South Head where it was dumped in sand dunes. Local residents were asked to be aware that there were five suspects in the area and to secure their vehicles and outbuildings.
A group of motorcycle enthusiasts and local community personnel soon came forward to help police search Woodhill Forest Park for the five suspects.
Police say the voluntary and committed assistance given to police by the local residents was instrumental in each of the five teenagers being caught.
The four males aged 15-17 and one female aged 15 years appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday on a total of 13 x charges including reckless driving, failing to stop, breach of bail, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and getting into a stolen motor vehicle.
All of the alleged offenders have been released on bail under strict conditions to reappear in Court again early next month.
Ends;
Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
District Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
Telephone: 09-488-9758 - Mobile: 027-281-0271