The young offender, initially on EM bail for unrelated charges at a Taheke address, began his audacious escapades after letting the battery of his electronic tracker die on May 3.
Northland cops, alongside a vigilant community, had been on the hunt since. Their persistence paid off when they apprehended the teen yesterday morning. Acting Senior Sergeant Greg Johnson, Kaikohe Area Prevention Manager, shared the saga of the juvenile delinquent’s misdeeds.
On May 9, a vehicle on Gillies Street, Kawakawa, fell victim to the offender. The driver’s door was forced open, and the ignition was trashed. The same day, another car was snatched from a hospital car park.
The crime spree didn’t stop there. Between May 14-15, the teen allegedly racked up six more offenses in Kawakawa and Taheke. But the real drama unfolded on State Highway One. Police received reports of a stolen vehicle hurtling down the wrong side of the road through Dome Forest, endangering lives. When officers signaled for him to pull over, he sped off recklessly, nearly causing multiple collisions and forcing drivers to take evasive maneuvers. The pursuit was too dangerous to continue.
However, the relentless efforts of the police bore fruit in the early hours of yesterday morning. The determined law enforcers caught the teen in the act of attempting another car theft on Railway Road, Kawakawa.
“These incidents are deeply troubling for both the community and the police,” said Acting Senior Sergeant Johnson. “Such reckless behaviour endangers lives, and targeting vehicles, especially in hospital car parks, is despicable. Our message to offenders is clear: you will be held accountable.”
The 17-year-old miscreant now awaits his fate, remanded in custody until his next appearance in Kaikohe Youth Court on June 11.
