Car thefts: Boy arrested

A stolen car was dumped in the Whangarei Quarry Gardens carpark yesterday. Photo / John Stone

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and police are seeking two other young males after three stolen cars were found at a Raumanga property, with one then being driven off and abandoned at the Whangarei Quarry Gardens.

Police said as part of inquiries into stolen cars they discovered three vehicles at the property and one of them was then driven off with three young people inside.

The Nissan Tiida hatchback was then abandoned in the Quarry Garden carpark, in Russell Rd, and the trio of youngsters took off.

A police dog handler tracked them along the railway towards Whau Valley and the 14-year-old boy was arrested.

A police spokesman said they were actively looking for the two other youngsters involved and any information can be passed to police anonymously to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.

Quarry Gardens operations manager David McDermott said a female volunteer at the gardens saw the car pull into the carpark about 3pm and the youngsters jump out.

Mr McDermott said the volunteer, who was working on some gardens, thought it was strange that the youngsters then went out of the carpark rather than walk towards the gardens as visitors usually did.

"She thought it was suspicious and it's not the sort of thing we see here, having stolen property dumped here."