Two men, aged 41 and 37, are facing a total of 37 burglary charges following a police operation in the Hamilton and Huntly areas.
The arrests were made after Waikato Police executed search warrants at two properties on October 18, uncovering a significant haul of stolen items, including jewellery and high-end designer goods.
The men, who first appeared in the Hamilton District Court last Saturday, have been remanded in custody and are expected to reappear this week. Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Foster of the Waikato Police Tactical Crime Unit said that further charges are likely as the investigation continues.
During the searches at properties in Rototuna and Huntly, police found a large volume of stolen goods, including bags of pearls, rings, necklaces, gold, and jewellery boxes brimming with valuable items.
At the second property, officers discovered more stolen items, including a sack full of designer handbags from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and Prada. Additionally, Hermes and Givenchy products were found still in their original packaging.
“We believe these burglaries date back further than the charges currently laid, which span from May this year,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Foster. He added that some of the stolen items had already been sold on, complicating the recovery process. Police are in the process of informing identified victims and working to return sentimental heirlooms and jewellery to their rightful owners.
“This is a significant result for us, and a lot of hard work has gone into this investigation,” Foster said. “There’s still much to do, but we are committed to returning as many stolen items as possible, which hold great sentimental value for the victims.”
The investigation is ongoing, and police expect more charges as they continue working through the large quantity of recovered items.
