Police updates on crimes and investigations for 6 June 2023.
Operation Metallic Red: Police operation sees arrests and bikes impounded
Police made numerous arrests and impounded vehicles as a result of an operation targeting illegal dirt bike activity during the long weekend.
Across Sunday and Monday, five arrests were made along with five bikes and one motor vehicle being impounded during Operation Metallic Red.
The operation had dedicated Police staff focused on preventing and disrupting the planned dirt bike ride across Auckland.
Acting Counties Manukau District Commander, Inspector Matt Srhoj says Police became aware of a number of bikes gathering in Papatoetoe about 11.30am on Sunday.
“There were approximately 40 to 50 bikes at the Manukau Memorial Gardens, some doing burnouts and driving dangerously,” he says.
“A short time later, the bikes left the gardens on Puhinui Road and travelled towards State Highway 20 heading north. Also in the convoy were several support vehicles that had people filming the bike run.”
Inspector Srhoj says Police units had just caught up to the bikes when two of the dirt bikes crashed, coming off their bikes.
He says neither rider was wearing any safety equipment and were transported to hospital with moderate injuries.
Both riders were taken by ambulance for medical assessment. Driving charges are being currently being considered and their bikes impounded.
“For their sake they are quite lucky to have not suffered serious injuries, or injured any other road users going about their business.”
Inspector Srhoj says a team of operational staff from across Tāmaki Makaurau, with assistance from the Police helicopter, Eagle, monitored the ride, which continued onto the North-Western motorway heading east.
The bikes then turned onto Southern Motorway heading south to Ōtara.
Police units and the Eagle Helicopter monitored the bike ride through Auckland to Ngāti Ōtara Park, where one rider, a Killer Bees member, was arrested for sustained loss of traction and drug offences. His motor bike was impounded.
Police cordons were set up around the park, which resulted in another bike rider being arrested and summonsed for failing to stop for Police. His bike was also seized.
A vehicle located exiting the park was also seized by Police in connection with a recent King Cobra bike run seen driving in a dangerous manner.
“The aim of this operation was to prevent smaller groups of riders growing into larger gatherings.
“We will continue to actively target those involved in anti-social and criminal activity,” Inspector Srhoj says.
“We understand the community is fed up with these motorbike riders’ behaviour and we don’t want to see anyone seriously injured or killed.
“Police will be reviewing CCTV footage, which will likely result in further arrests and charges.”
Anyone who observes dangerous or nuisance driving as it is occurring please contact 111, alternatively if you have information which may assist us contact Police via our 105 phone service, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Three arrested after fleeing driver incident in Hawke’s Bay
Three youths aged 14, 15 and 16 have been arrested after a fleeing driver incident across the Hawke’s Bay area this morning.
Police received a report of a Toyota vehicle driving erratically in Napier about 7am.
The car had been reported stolen from Gisborne overnight.
The Toyota vehicle was later observed in Napier, but sped away when spotted by Police patrols.
The vehicle was fitted with a GPS tracker.
Police did not pursue and instead maintained a safe distance from the vehicle and placed staff at wider cordons.
The vehicle was successfully spiked on a rural road heading towards Taupō.
The vehicle was driven on its tyre rims until it became undrivable and eventually stopped.
Three youths were arrested and taken into custody.
No one was injured during the incident.
Police take fleeing driver incidents very seriously.
‘In the event we do not pursue at the time due to safety concerns, we make extensive follow-up enquiries to hold those responsible to account,’ said Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Munro.
‘In this case, we were fortunate the vehicle had a tracking device.
‘We are committed to keeping our community safe and we will not tolerate dangerous behaviour on our roads, antisocial behaviour, or theft.
‘We will do all we can to hold these offenders to account.
‘All three youths are facing a variety of charges, one for breaching bail conditions.
‘Enquiries are underway regarding two other vehicles stolen in Gisborne at around the same time as the Toyota, and one of those vehicles has been recovered already.
‘All three youths appeared today in Youth Court.’
Arrests following Manawatū search warrants
Nine men and two women have been arrested following a termination in the Manawatū.
On 23 May, the Manawatū Organised Crime Unit executed a number of search warrants in the area.
As a result, 11 people have been arrested and charged with a variety of offences, ranging from burglary/receiving, unlawful possession of firearms and restricted weapons, through to the sale and supply of methamphetamine and GHB (fantasy substance).
Eight have been remanded in custody and are due to reappear on 20 June and on 4 July in Manawatū District Court.
Three firearms, ammunition, a taser, cash, methamphetamine and GHB were also recovered by Police during the search warrants.
The investigation commenced on 1 April, and focussed on dishonesty offending and the sale and supply of methamphetamine in the Manawatū area.
One person has also been charged with receiving a rare Mitsubishi Evo motor vehicle, valued at $60,000, which was recovered from a Palmerston North address.
The vehicle had been stolen in a burglary on 8 May from a garage on Wellesbourne Street in Palmerston North.
“Removing drugs and illegal firearms from the community is a priority and targeting of organised criminal groups and the disruption of these groups will continue,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Heald.
“If you see or hear of anything that appears suspicious or have information relating to drug dealing activity please let us know or report it anonymously through Crime Stoppers.”
You can contact Police using 105, or by phoning Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Stolen vehicle located and arrests made
Three youths were located in a stolen vehicle on John Wilson Ocean Drive in Dunedin earlier today.
Two of the youths were involved in multiple incidents across the Otago region over the weekend, including three burglaries, two unlawful vehicle takes, and a petrol drive off.
During one of the burglaries in Alexandra, a vehicle belonging to a member of the public was rammed by the offenders leaving the scene.
A 14-year-old female and a 17-year-old female are due to appear in Dunedin Youth Court on 7 June and 12 June.
One youth remains outstanding in relation to the burglaries and enquiries remain ongoing to locate them.
‘We acknowledge the concern these incidents cause to the wider community and reiterate our commitment to holding these offenders accountable,’ said police in a statement.
‘We will not tolerate this behaviour in our community and will continue to work hard to ensure our community can be safe and feel safe.’
This just goes to show the truth in the following jingle:
IF GUNS WERE OULLAWED (as are semi-auto’s & MSSA’s), ONLY OUTLAWS WOULD HAVE GUNS!
The pictures in the article, and several past articles, proves this.