Hastings: Bizarre cannabis bust ends in arrest of informant and alleged thief

Police have made a sizeable cannabis bust after a bizarre series of events.

A man allegedly stealing cannabis plants from a Hastings property while armed with a butcher’s knife has been arrested – along with the informant.

The bizarre incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday on Williams St.

A 111 call was made at 2.15am when a concerned resident noticed a balaclava-clad man with a butcher’s knife allegedly stealing plants, according to police.

“Equally concerned, officers wasted no time locating the suspect, walking away from a green waste bin into which the shrubbery had been unceremoniously stuffed,” a police statement read.

“The stolen-then-abandoned bush turned out to be a massive cannabis plant ‘the size of a big Christmas tree’.

“As the alleged offender was transported back to the station, officers went to speak with the informant who reported the theft. At the address, police found enough to trigger a search warrant.”

Officers found more cannabis plants, buds and seeds inside the home and several more plants in the backyard.

“To add to the informant’s woes, they lost a second lot of cannabis after police confiscated the remaining plants, buds and seeds back to the station,” the police statement read.

A 35-year-old man has been charged with aggravated burglary and will appear in the Hastings District Court on March 26, while the 33-year-old informant was arrested for cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis utensils.

“Inquiries are continuing, but the cannabis tree won’t see Christmas,” the statement ended.