Hamilton Police are commending a neighbour for listening to her instincts following the arrest of a boy responsible for several burglaries in the City over recent days.
Detective Sergeant Ricky Thompson of the Hamilton Law Enforcement Team said a neighbour noticed the 15-year-old boy looked out of place as she headed out to do some shopping yesterday.
"She went to the shops and did some shopping but something kept nagging in the back of her mind and she returned home.
"As she arrived back she saw the boy about to leave with her neighbour's computer which he dropped and fled, the woman phoned 111 and officers converged on the Nawton area but just missed capturing him."
Mr Thompson said LET officers were able to identify the offender and he was arrested this morning.
"Our offender was charged in relation to burglaries on Maeroa, Baverstock and Sunnyside Roads and an attempt on Mooney St over recent days and is currently being interviewed in relation to four other burglaries.
"Not only was our offender truant from school he had absconded from a Court imposed residence he was assigned to in Tokoroa after being found guilty of seven burglaries in July."
Mr Thompson said the offender had displayed a reasonable degree of organisation in relation to his planning of the burglaries.
"We believe he would change out of one set of clothes and into another, carry out his burglary and return to change his clothes again before fleeing in order to avoid detection.
"Today's arrest resulted from a neighbour listening to her gut instincts and phoning Police, this is something we urge all people to do if they notice something not right, we'd rather attend five false alarms than miss the opportunity to catch an offender."
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