CCTV camera operators in three centres have helped report suspicious activity to police, leading to arrests in two cases. Photo: Unsplash/ Johny Goh
Council CCTV camera operators have helped nab a group of young people police say were trying to burgle a shop.
The events come days after a similar incident, where a CCTV operator helped officers track a different group of young people who police say tried to burgle a commercial property.
Group spotted in Rotorua arrested in Tauranga
About 2am on Friday, Rotorua Lakes Council CCTV operators noticed a security alarm had gone off at a shop in Amohau Street, Rotorua's Inspector Phil Gillbanks said.
The council staff reported the alarm to police, and officers investigating then signalled a car on Amohau Street to stop, he said.
"It did not stop and instead drove dangerously and at speed, on to Fairy Springs Road and out of town. A pursuit was abandoned due to the manner of driving."
However, Tauranga City Council CCTV camera operators were the next to spot the vehicle. And officers then spiked its tyres on Tauranga's Paraone Koikoi Drive.
Police said young people from the car ran away, but dog handlers were brought in and they were arrested.
Five young people, aged between 15 and 17 years old were scheduled to appear in the Tauranga Youth Court on Friday in connection to the incident.
Taupō CCTV footage helps nab different group
Police said in an unrelated incident on Monday, four young people tried to use a vehicle to get into a commercial property on Taupō's Ruapehu Street, before driving away.
A CCTV operator spotted the vehicle, which was spiked in Rotorua, near Clayton Road.
Four people aged between 15 and 17 years old then ran away, before a police dog was was used to find them and they were arrested, Gillbanks said.
"The arrests across these two incidents outline the coordination between police and local councils across multiple towns and areas in an attempt to apprehend offenders," he said.
