Fifth arrest after Wellington crime spree

Police have arrested a fifth man today in connection with a Wellington crime spree last month. File photo / NZ Herald

A fifth man was arrested today in connection with a Wellington crime spree last month, which included an arson attack on the Karori police station.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Dunn, of Wellington CIB, said the 23-year-old man was arrested in Porirua this morning.

Last Friday, three men, aged 25, 28 and 43, and a 51-year-old woman were arrested in relation to a series of alleged offending late last month and included burglaries of commercial premises, car thefts, arsons and a ram raid. Three of the accused are understood to be from the same family

Mr Dunn said the man arrested today was also charged in connection with a burglary at the Billabong Surf Shop in Otaki on April 25. About $10,000 worth of goods was stolen.

The man was to appear Wellington District Court this afternoon, and Mr Dunn said more arrests in connection to the Billabong Surf Shop burglary were likely.

The Wellington crime spree took place on the night of May 24-25.

It included the theft of three Subaru cars, one of which was abandoned and set on fire after a police chase.

Firefighters were called to the Karori community police station after a fire was reported about 5am on May 25.

Mr Dunn said the offenders had threw rocks at the building, smashing windows, before throwing in four molotov cocktails.

"All burned out without causing any major damage," he said.

While police were dealing with that incident, a further call came in regarding a ram-raid at a liquor store in Brooklyn followed burglaries at Storage King on Hutt Road, and the Tile Warehouse on Kaiwharawhara Rd minutes later.

Last Friday police searched two properties in Newlands and Miramar and a large amount of stolen property was found.

- NZPA