AOS raid nabs arrests after spate of thefts

Armed Offender Squad. Photo/file.

Police have arrested a man they say could be responsible for about 100 burglaries, including the theft of motorbikes, a go-kart and utility in the Waihi area.

Members of the Armed Offenders Squad joined Waihi police in raiding a Regent St address on Friday morning.

Detective Senior Sergeant Daryl Smith said police were following leads in relation to dozens of burglaries in the area.

Armed staff were required to assist with the search warrant as tips offs suggested the occupants could have had access to restricted weapons.

"While firearms weren't recovered property and information was linking one offender to what at first looked like 15 burglaries in Waihi and one theft from a vehicle which has subsequently expanded to six burglaries in Waihi Beach, five in Whiritoa and two in Whangamata."

Mr Smith said police were also looking into links to 10-15 offences in Whitianga which included the theft of various vehicles including motorbikes, a go-kart and a utility.

"It's too early to say the exact number of offences committed but we are potentially facing the possibility of clearing around 100 complaints," he said.

In addition to the main offender, a 26-year-old man, two other people wanted on warrants to arrest were also taken into custody and face a variety of dishonesty charges, Mr Smith said.

"At this stage it looks like our staff will be spending several days working to establish the extent of the offending that has been linked to this man but Friday's wasn't the only success the TCU [Tactical Crime Unit] have had lately."

Mr Smith said members of his team have also apprehended a further seven people over recent days who have amassed another 50 dishonesty offences.

"These offenders have carried out burglaries, thefts from cars, arson, fraud and other offences both in Hamilton and across the Waikato.

"The recent successes speak volumes for the changes brought about last year by the creation of the TCU from staff brought together from across the Waikato to volume crime."

Where previously officers were tied down to static locations Mr Smith said this centralised approach allows a group of dedicated hunters to target problem crime areas district wide.

"It's about bringing a whole of district solution to problems, offenders need to realise it's not just the resources of Waihi, or Te Awamutu or Hamilton Police they face but a whole of Waikato solution."