KEY POINTS:
Two alleged petrol burglars confronted by a Morrinsville farmer who used a firearm to blast two warning shots appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday.
Hamilton men Johnathon Lawrence Johnson, 21, and Bobby John Saunders (who also uses the surname Morrison), 26, appeared before a community magistrate and were remanded on bail until September 25.
In the early morning of August 13 the pair were allegedly caught stealing petrol from the Bonnar family farm, about 7km southeast of Morrinsville.
Using a farm vehicle, one of the property owners blocked off the exit point to the road as the alleged offenders tried to flee by car.
The accused attempted to reverse their car but a warning shot was fired by the farmer.
The pair then proceeded forward but another warning shot was fired.
Police said the farmer then told Saunders and Johnson to get out of the car and lie on the ground, which they did.
The men were restrained by an associate of the farmer until police arrived and arrested them.
The farmer is now at the centre of a separate police investigation into his actions, which included the use of the gun.
ESR scientists were called in to collect evidence from the farm two weeks ago, and this will be combined with interviews with the people involved.
All members of the Bonnar family have declined to comment.
