Owner alerts police to teen wearing her stolen clothing

A woman was surprised to see her stolen clothes being worn on the streets of Kamo. Photo / Jon Stone

Three days after being burgled, a Whangarei woman spotted a teenage girl she didn't know wearing her top and shoes.

A quick call to police resulted in the teen being spoken to and stolen clothing plus a significant amount of stolen jewellery in a backpack recovered and returned to the owner.

Kamo Sergeant Craig Burrows said the teenager was spotted last Friday in Kamo and officers quickly established the property had come from two burglaries in the area.

The teenager has been referred to the police Youth Aid team.

Burrows said most of the property had been returned to the owners. He said it was a timely reminder to home owners to ensure they locked their homes when they left.

If people were working at the back of their properties they should also keep doors and windows secured at the front of the property to help deter opportunist thefts.

Meanwhile, in Dargaville, police are attributing a quick-thinking member of the public whose actions led to the arrest of two men allegedly burgling an empty house.

Senior Sergeant Rob Huys said police were made aware of suspicious activity at a property in the town about 10am on Monday.

The house was vacant but some property had yet to be moved, Huys said.

Officers at the scene established someone had tried to break into the house and a short time later a man was arrested and charged with burglary. A second male was referred to Youth Aid.

The town was hit three weeks ago when thieves broke into a number of commercial premises.

"We encourage members of the public to keep calling us if they see something out of place," Huys said.

"Let us know early and we will assess the information and decide what action we take."