NZ Police Car Crime Operation Results In 72 Arrests

LAWFUEL – NZ Legal Jobs & Law News – An 11-day Police multi-district car crime operation has resulted in 72 arrests for the unlawful taking of motor vehicles, thefts from cars, excess breath/alcohol, driving while disqualified, burglary and drug offences.

Operation Stinger was run across the three Auckland policing districts from October 23 to today and involved the setting up of 35 checkpoints at various key locations. Nearly 1,000 infringement offence notices (where automatic fines are applicable) and traffic offence notices (where guilt or innocence is decided at Court) were issued.

In all, 36 stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to their owners. A quantity of property stolen from cars and recovered as a result of search warrants executed has also been returned to owners.

Officer in charge of Operation Stinger, Inspector Jim Wilson, said that more than 4,000 vehicles were stopped during the 11-day operation and hundreds of bail checks were carried out.

“The staff also located two methamphetamine labs, one in Mt Roskill and the other in Blockhouse Bay,” Mr Wilson said.

“Names of nominated ‘Top 10’ offenders in one district featured – not surprisingly – in other districts and by working closely together to execute specific search warrants we’ve had a significant impact on car crime – and other volume crime like burglary – in the region.”

More than the usual number of directed patrols of identified vehicle and other volume crime ‘hotspots’ were carried out – especially around large busy shopping-mall car parks that are susceptible to such offences.

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