A 39-year-old man is due to appear in the Manukau District Court after Police allegedly caught him leaving a commercial building under construction in Wiri with industrial lighting equipment in his van.
Police were alerted by a security company at about 11.30pm on Monday after CCTV showed an unknown man inside the Kerrs Road building.
Acting Senior Sergeant Jane Cornish, of Counties Manukau Police, said officers were dispatched to the site while the Police Eagle helicopter arrived overhead within minutes.
Eagle monitored a van as it began leaving the property before officers arrived and blocked its exit.
“The alleged offender told officers he was there to play soccer,” Cornish said.
Police searched the van and allegedly found a number of industrial panel lights matching those installed in the building. Officers also discovered what Police say was methamphetamine, cannabis and a meth pipe.
The man was taken into custody.
“This was a good catch by our staff who attended the scene quickly,” Cornish said.
The 39-year-old is charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and possession of utensils for drug use.
