CHASE OVER: One of the police cars that was rammed with a stolen van on Monday night, possibly damaged beyond repair.
CHASE OVER: One of the police cars that was rammed with a stolen van on Monday night, possibly damaged beyond repair.
Who ate all the pies might well become of interest in the fullness of time, but for the moment the police in Kaitaia want to know who stole them. And icecream, cakes, softdrinks and the cash register from The Bakerman in Awanui on Monday night.
Police were alerted to thetheft at about 11.15pm, two patrol cars from Kaitaia heading east on SH10 in pursuit of a purple Toyota Hiace van, stolen at Mill Bay (Mangonui) on Wednesday last week, that the offenders were seen leaving Awanui in.
They caught up with it at Aurere, west of Taipa, then pursued it, at speeds that were believed to be less than excessive, through the backroads to Oruru Road, where it was used to ram both patrol cars, rendering them immobile. One of the cars was potentially damaged beyond repair, one officer sustaining a minor injury that did not require medical treatment.
Meanwhile the van turned up in the Taipa River, a fisherman pulling it off the boat ramp and on to dry land on Tuesday morning so he could launch his boat.
ABANDONED: The interior of the stolen van, with some of the thieves' ill-gotten gains clearly visible, after it was dragged back on to dry land. PICTURE/SUPPLIED
By that stage the vehicle was almost fully submerged, with a substantial quantity of the goods stolen from The Bakerman still inside it.
Police are actively looking for the offenders, who they suspect of being involved in other burglaries in the Kaitaia area. Anyone who has any information is asked to call the Kaitaia police station on (09) 408-6500, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555-111.
