A syndicate of boat burglars operating in Northland marinas was the target of dawn police raids yesterday.
Police say the gang lifted expensive rods, reels and other equipment from boats moored at isolated marinas with little security.
The value of the stolen items could be as high as $500,000.
The raids in Mangonui, Kaeo and Coopers Beach resulted in three arrests.
A 29-year-old Kaeo man alleged to be one of the organisers will appear in the Kaitaia District Court this month on multiple burglary and theft charges.
A Mangonui man, 29, will face receiving charges on the same date.
A third man will face unrelated firearms charges after three weapons were seized at the Kaeo address.
The commander of Operation Penn, Acting Detective Sergeant Jack Dudley, said a roomful of fishing gear had been found at one property.
Twenty police from Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe and the Whangarei-based law enforcement team took part in the raids.
Constable Mike Sabin, who has worked on the case since September, described the gang as highly organised.
Police estimate that they stole $350,000 to $500,000 of fishing gear, outboards and small boats over the past 18 months. Before yesterday, less than 5 per cent had been recovered.
- NZPA
Three arrests in raids hunting boat burglars
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