Quick-thinking locals help nab service station burglars

File photo / NZ Herald

Reefton police say help from quick-thinking locals helped nab four burglars who smashed their way into the Challenge service station early today.

Senior constable Fred Ackland said the thieves smashed through a plate glass window at the service station, in Sinnamon Street, about 3.30am.

Mr Ackland said the blaring alarm system stopped them in their tracks and they fled empty-handed.

However, the same commotion awoke nearby residents, who managed to get detailed descriptions of the fleeing burglars and phoned police immediately.

"Thanks to them we were able to get a description of [the burglars] and their vehicle, which resulted in them being stopped," Mr Ackland said.

Police arrested the four men, all in their early 20s and from the Nelson region, at Murchison about 90 minutes later.

Mr Ackland said the "excellent work" by the members of the public in getting out of bed to see what was happening and dialling 111 proved why people should immediately report incidents to the police.

A 'smash and grab' was unusual for Reefton and a first for the Challenge garage.

"Cigarettes are the usual thing they go for in service stations and convenience stores."

Although the burglars had been caught the service station would be counting the cost by several thousand dollars. The plate glass window was likely to cost up to $3000 to fix, plus the cost of stock ruined by shattered glass, Mr Ackland said.

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