Teen took truck and picked up tourists, say police

A Whangarei teenager's liking of trucks tempted him to take one from Auckland, then pick up two German hitchhikers while on a joyride north, police say.

After the 16-year-old was arrested just south of Whangarei on Thursday, police learned he was wanted for at least three truck drive-offs in his home town.

Sometime on Thursday afternoon, the juvenile slipped into Mainfreight's Otahuhu depot and drove off in a Scania truck after its driver left the keys in the vehicle while going to the toilet, police say.

Company managing director Don Braid said someone entered a secure site through a gate, got into the truck and was gone within minutes.

He said the husband of one of his female employees spotted the truck and was able to give a location, which was passed to police.

Mr Braid said Linfox and Wastecare staff also helped locate the truck. The youth allegedly picked up two female German hitchhikers at a petrol station during his joyride north.

The person must have driven a truck before, as given the complexity of the truck's gearboxes not just anyone could jump in and drive away, Mr Braid said.

He said the truck driver would not be leaving his keys in the vehicle the next time he went out.

"We'll certainly keep an eye out for him [the alleged offender] in future," he said.

The truck has been safely returned to its Auckland depot.

Whangarei police acting Sergeant Cameron Stack said the teenager was arrested about 3pm and was facing at least 10 charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and burglary.

He said police had received at least three complaints of trucks being taken and dumped around Whangarei. None was damaged.

The teenager was due to appear in the Youth Court in Whangarei yesterday.

Mr Stack said the hitchhikers would not face any charges because they were not involved.