An off-duty cop who spotted a suspicious group near a Michael Hill Jewellers’ store sparked a police operation that ended with three wanted youths in custody.
Included in the group was a teen wanted after the brazen aggravated robbery of Michael Hill Jewellers’ Napier.
The operation began after the off-duty officer noticed a group near Michael Hill Jewellers’ Pukekohe yesterday afternoon, Detective Inspector Karen Bright said.
One of the group was after aggravated robberies at Michael Hill Jewellers’ Napier 10 days ago, and a Papatoetoe bar on Tuesday, said Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB.
In the Napier incident, witnesses described at least four masked people – one armed with a machete – leaping from a car, bursting into the store and smashing open cabinets before grabbing jewellery and fleeing.
In the incident near the Michael Hill Jewellers’ Pukekohe store yesterday, the group were acting suspiciously before leaving in a vehicle, Bright said.
“Upon realising the risk that a further robbery may be imminent, additional police resource was deployed into the township; on the ground and in the air.
“Our staff were highly visible and there was nowhere this group could go.”
Meanwhile, the National Retail Investigation Support Unit contacted Michael Hill Jewellers, and the chain’s stores activated additional security measures.
Prevention patrols also spread across Auckland region, she said.
A breakthrough came when police spotted the vehicle of interest on Manukau Rd, with the police Eagle helicopter flying overhead to help.
“Despite the vehicle being abandoned on a side road, our frontline staff quickly deployed into the area. A short time later, a suspicious activity report came in where a group of young people were seen changing their clothes at a nearby high school.”
Police were soon on the scene, stopping two young people as staff on Eagle watched as two other males tried to walk away, Bright said.
“They were no match for frontline staff who quickly gave chase on foot on Harris St, with both males giving up and being arrested.”
The Counties Manukau Major Crime Team then worked into the night to lay charges against three males, who will all be appearing in the Manukau Youth Court, she said.
One aged 15 had been charged with aggravated robbery after the Papatoetoe bar incident on Tuesday, with a 17-year-old also charged with aggravated robbery over that incident.
The older teen is also charged with aggravated robbery over the armed heist at Michael Hill Jewellers’ Napier, as well as four charges of unlawfully taking a vehicle.
Another 17-year-old has been charged with aggravated robbery over an incident at a Takanini vape store on January 23, Bright said.
He also faced several charges relating to vehicle crime, she said.
“This is an outstanding result by every single staff member involved in responding … between a highly visible police response and partnerships with retailers, we have prevented further offending from taking place.”