Man in court charged with burglaries, arson in red zone

Photo / File

A 21-year-old will appear in court this morning charged with the burglaries and an arson of properties in the Christchurch residential red zone.

The local man was arrested late on Wednesday and will appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with 11 burglaries.

He's also been charged in connection to an alleged arson at Azure Place, in Burwood, on August 3.

All of the alleged burglaries occurred in the eastern suburbs, police say.

The residential red zone has been hit by a spate of suspicious fires in recent weeks.

Detective Inspector Greg Murton says enquiries by Christchurch CIB supported by forensic experts into these and other residential red zone arsons and burglaries are continuing and additional charges against other identified offenders are likely.

"These charges are the result of excellent forensic work at the scene of these arsons and burglaries followed up with a focused team of detectives investigating these offences," he said.

"This will continue for all arsons and burglaries in residential red zone."

Police have increased patrols in the hard-hit areas and have asked that any suspicious activity is reported to them immediately.