Cop dives into sea to apprehend man in stolen boat

File photo / NZ Herald

An Auckland police constable stripped off his police uniform and dove into the sea to apprehend a man making off in a stolen row boat yesterday.

The aquatic arrest took place after police were notified of a suspicious car in the Whenuapai area. The car had been stolen earlier that day from an address in Massey, police said.

The stolen car was soon located in Totara Road, Whenuapai and a number of items associated with committing burglary were found by police in the car.

As a police dog unit attempted to track the man, he was spotted getting into a row boat which had been stolen from a nearby property.

He then made his way into the mangroves towards open water in an attempt to evade police.

Despite being asked to return to the shore a number of times, the man refused, police said.

As he not wearing a life jacket and the row boat was taking on water, the constables present made the decision for one of the officers to strip down and swim out to the man in a bit to negotiate with him.

As they did, another constable was taken by a local jetskier to assist. Another two officers joined a member of the public on his small boat and assisted with the recovery of the stolen row boat and the alleged burglar's arrest.

The man was arrested and the stolen boat recovered without further incident, police said.

Waitakere Police Senior Sergeant Grant Tetzlaff described the arrest and assistance from the public as outstanding.

"There were a number of members of the public present and willing to assist with this incident by offering the use of their various vessels without hesitation, for which we are very grateful.

"After stripping down and catching a burglar in the water, it's nice to come back to shore to a round of applause from residents standing on the jetty."

The 33-year-old man apprehended has been charged with burglary, unlawfully taking a vehicle, unlawfully in an enclosed yard and theft and was due to appear in Waitakere District Court today.