Third time drink driver
A 57-year-old Stratford man caught for the third time drink driving has been summonsed to appear in the Hawera District Court on November 20.
The man allegedly last Tuesday pulled out of Hills Rd in front of a vehicle driving south on SH3. Police say alcohol was suspected and he blew 848mcg. His license was suspended. The female driver of the other car sustained minor injuries but is still being assessed.
Petty damage worrying
A Brecon Rd fence tagged "Westside", and graffiti and damaged plants and trees on Orlando St are the latest in what the police say is a worrying spate of wilful petty damage to private and public property in Stratford.
"There seems to be an increase in graffiti and petty damage around town," says senior inspector Darin Haenga.
The trail includes tagging in the pedestrian tunnel on Broadway, on the cricket club's external walls and in the skateboard park, and damage to the Victoria Park toilet where towel holders were broken and faeces spread around.
Lame excuse
The excuse of a man caught red-handed behind the wheel of a farmer's son's car on Eltham Rd in Kaponga was that he ran out of fuel and was looking for help, say police. The farmer heard the engine running and on investigating found the Maori male in the seat, who, however, quickly left in a van after proffering the explanation.
Five km to help
The male driver of the vehicle that crashed into a ditch at the Pohokura Saddle on the Forgotten World Highway after falling asleep around 8.45pm last Monday walked 5km to a farmhouse to find help. The 23-year-old from Whangamomona had minor injuries to his wrist and head.
Gholden booty
Burglar(s) took a booty of Holden tyres and mags from a shed on Antonio St in Stratford last Wednesday after breaking in.
Child vandals
A 9-year-old and 10-year-old were caught setting a paper towel bin alight and plugging the sink in an Eltham public toilet last Tuesday. They were both referred to Youth Aid.
Recognise the tag?
A two-year-old Hereford cross steer with a white face was last week reported stolen from a Rawhitiroa property, probably taken on October 23. It has no tag but a square earmark that resembles a drawing of a house with a chimney, say police.