Rotorua and Tauranga council CCTV cameras help police catch youths

Council camera operators in Rotorua and Tauranga have assisted police in the arrest of five young people. Photo / Jason Oxenham

“Eagle-eyed” council camera operators in Rotorua and Tauranga have been credited with helping police track down five young alleged offenders.

Rotorua Police area prevention manager Phil Gillbanks said in a statement that police received a report of an attempted burglary at an Amohau St store at about 2am.

An alarm activation alerted Rotorua Lakes Council CCTV operators to the incident.

Gillbanks said police saw a vehicle on Amohau St and signalled for it to stop.

“It did not stop and instead drove dangerously and at speed, on to Fairy Springs Rd and out of town.

“A pursuit was abandoned due to the manner of driving,” Gillbanks said.

The vehicle was then sighted by Tauranga City Council CCTV operators in Tauranga.

“Police in the area successfully spiked the vehicle, and it came to a stop near Paraone Koikoi Drive.

“The alleged offenders exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but did not make it far before being located and arrested with the assistance of a dog unit,” Gillbanks said.

Five youths, aged between 15 and 17, were due to appear in the Tauranga Youth Court on Friday, he said.

He thanked the camera operators for their “eagle-eyed” help.

Gillbanks said it followed a similar incident involving commercial premises on Ruapehu St, Taupō on Monday.

Four alleged youth offenders aged between 15 and 17 were arrested after using a vehicle in a bid to get into the premises, then fleeing the scene in it.

CCTV was used to track the vehicle, before it was successfully spiked near Clayton Rd.

The suspects fled from the vehicle on foot but were found and arrested with the help of a police dog.

These two incidents are not believed to be linked, he said.

“The arrests across these two incidents outline the co-ordination between police and local councils across multiple towns and areas in an attempt to apprehend offenders,” Gillbanks said.

“The use of CCTV footage continues to be an asset to investigations and serves as an extra tool for police, one that helps us maintain a strong partnership with our local councils.”