A man has been arrested for allegedly reporting a car stolen after borrowing it and crashing it into a lamp post.
Police said they were alerted to someone trying to take possessions and number plates from a crashed BMW outside Kempton Park Retirement Village on Te Paeroa Rd, Bethlehem, about 8am yesterday.
The vehicle had been extensively damaged in the crash.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said the car was believed to have been crashed about 2.15am and was then reported stolen about 3.30am.
Police arrived at the scene of the crash shortly after 8am yesterday but were not able to find the person who was seen taking items from the car.
The registered owner was tracked down and the person who had borrowed the car was identified, interviewed and arrested.
A 22-year-old Tauranga man has been charged with making a false complaint and careless driving.
He will appear in Tauranga District Court on Monday.
