Arrests in string of offences

Police have made arrests in a number of serious incidents including a man at the centre of a high speed chase involving numerous police vehicles and a helicopter.

A 42-year-old man was arrested following a raid on a Whangarei house, a day after the police pursuit. It's believed he could also be linked to a string of coastal and rural burglaries over the last few weeks.

Two men, aged 38 and 42, were arrested following police searches of a Whangarei property and another at Maungatapere last Friday.

The 42-year-old is alleged to have been in a pursuit on State Highway 14 near the intersection with Mangakahia Rd, west of Whangarei, about 11.15pm last Thursday.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said officers searched two houses at Whangarei and Maungatapere and found property that had been stolen from coastal and rural addresses and some property believed to have been stolen in other burglaries.

The 42-year-old is facing burglary, theft, theft ex car, driving while unlicensed, driving at a dangerous speed and failing to stop charges. The 38-year-old is facing four burglary charges and a theft charge. Both men were remanded in custody and were to appear in the Whangarei District Court.

In an effort to locate owners of the stolen property, police are putting photos of the items on the Northland Police Facebook page.

Anyone living in a coastal or rural area between Whangarei and the Bay of Islands who has been burgled since January should check the page to see if their property has been found. If you recognise any of the items contact the Tactical Crime Unit at Whangarei Police on 09 430 4500.

Police continued to make arrests with a 17-year-old male to appear in court on two aggravated robbery charges and one of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. One of the charges related to a robbery at Patels Foodmarket on Kamo Road in Whangarei, on September 17 last year, when three masked offenders, one armed with a knife, allegedly went into the store and demanded cash and cigarettes.

In the second robbery on February 13, two men allegedly broke into a Mangakahia Road address and confronted the sole occupant.

And a 34-year-old man has been charged with the aggravated robbery of Kamo Liquorland on April 26 this year. He is in custody to appear in the Whangarei District Court on July 14.

Police are still investigating the armed robberies of other liquor stores including the Whangarei Liquor Centre on Maunu Road, which has been robbed twice, and the Super Liquor in Tikipunga.