DIY sleuths track down suspects

A Palmerston North man reckons he knows who broke into his caryard last month, after he and fellow amateur sleuths tracked evidence initially ignored by police.

Tremaine Auto Sales owner Bradley Tunnell and friends launched Operation Bacon shortly after thieves smashed windows in eight cars to steal stereos. They also stole a set of chrome wheels. Mr Tunnell said the group identified the alleged offenders within a week. The information was handed to police, who have yet to press charges.

He said the thieves poisoned his guard dog by feeding it poisoned meat. But they left the bones' packaging at the scene - a vital clue.

A police officer told Mr Tunnell that using the packet of bacon bones as a lead would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Undeterred, he and his associates traced the bones to a Palmerston North supermarket and asked the manager to use the package's bar-code to trace the buyers.

He obliged, and a picture of three people was produced from security camera footage, including their vehicle. Mr Tunnell and his friends then tracked them down.

- NZPA