Police work coughs up the dough

Counties Manukau Police say “a nocturnal thief has lost his crust” after officers busted his alleged nighttime crime spree.

Beginning in early April, the alleged offender has targeted a range of different south Auckland locations in the early hours of the morning, police say.

“Police will allege the man carried out a spree of opportunistic thefts,” says Counties Manukau West Police area prevention manager, inspector Mohammed Atiq.

“Some of this offending included taking items left outside or allegedly breaking in.

“He has acquired a large haul including multiple 20-litre cans of soyabean oils, dozens of water slabs, 150 loaves of bread, and even a wallet and phone from a car parked at a residential property.”

After piecing together reports and identifying a vehicle of interest in all the thefts, the police’s Ōtāhuhu tactical crime unit (TCU) set about identifying the offender, says Atiq.

Soon after enquiries began, the vehicle was seen travelling on Roscommon Road in Manurewa and signalled to stop.

Atiq says the vehicle tried to evade police before returning to an address of interest nearby.

Ōtāhuhu TCU arrived at the address and could clearly see loaves of bread, and the crate they were delivered on, in the back of the vehicle, he says.

The alleged offender was taken into custody.

“We’re always pleased to apprehend those who think this kind of brazen offending is acceptable,” Atiq says.

A 53-year-old male has appeared in the Manukau District Court charged with burglary, police say.

He’s remanded in custody to reappear in court on June 25.