Police make arrest in relation to Whangārei robberies after spotting suspect vehicle

The Z station in Kensington, Whangārei, was the target of a robbery in the early hours of January 22. Photo / Brodie Stone, NZME graphic

Police have arrested a 16-year-old suspected of being involved in two recent robberies in Whangārei.

The youth was taken into custody and was due to appear in the Whangārei Youth Court today, police said.

The arrest followed a police pursuit of a vehicle just after 5pm yesterday. The vehicle had been identified as one potentially involved in a robbery at Kensington’s Z petrol station early on Wednesday and possibly also in an attempted aggravated robbery later that day at Tikipunga.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, of Whangārei, said police signalled for the vehicle to stop in Otangarei but it sped off.

The vehicle was then abandoned and its two occupants fled but were soon found by a police dog unit.

”This was an excellent example of a well-coordinated response to some dangerous behaviour within our community,” Pilmer said.

Police allege a worker at the Z station was assaulted and threatened by a group of people who smashed a glass door to get inside the shop, which was in its locked night-pay mode. Items were taken but were not described by police.

The incident at Tikipunga was said to have involved a group entering a dairy on Meadow Park Crescent just before 3pm.

Police say the store’s fog cannon was activated and the suspects sped off in a vehicle.

It was not known what items, if any, were taken.

Pilmer called on the public to report any unlawful behaviour they might have seen either by calling 111 (for incidents that were happening at the time) or, for matters after the fact, by phoning 105 or contacting police online.

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference, especially stories about environmental issues.