Please attribute to Inspector Marty James:
Hawke's Bay Police have arrested a prolific burglar thanks to the help of our communities reporting real time information to us.
Police received reports from multiple members of the public in short succession yesterday, that a man was seen committing burglaries at five properties in Hastings.
The first call was received from an off-duty Police officer who had been contacted by his parents, that they had seen someone breaking into their home via remotely watching CCTV.
Soon after we received another four more calls from the public, reporting the man was seen breaking into other properties before making his way north through the suburb.
Due to the swift reporting from the public, staff were able to attend, track the offender to a nearby 4 Square and set up cordons, where he was arrested.
Frontline staff including a Dog Unit and investigators responded to the incident.
Staff from the Hawkes Bay Police Precision Targeting Team are continuing to investigate into the activities of the burglar while he was in Hasting.
The 31-year-old man has been charged with five counts of burglary. He is due to appear in the Hasting District Court today.
We have also become aware that he was wanted in relation to a burglary in Hawera early last month.
We’d like to thank the members of the public for their assistance in providing information which led to the man's arrest.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre