Locksmith raid may be escaper's work

Tauranga police say they cannot rule out a link between the raid on a Mt Maunganui locksmith and escaped prisoner Zeb McCallion.

McCallion escaped from Rotorua police station with Dean Whakatu on October 4 by forcing his way through a ceiling and getting past wire netting and corrugated iron.

Whakatu was recaptured two weeks later, but McCallion is still on the run. He was facing 17 burglary charges and car theft charges.

Acting Senior Sergeant Darryl Brazier said Tauranga police had no direct evidence connecting McCallion to the locksmith burglary, but could not rule out a connection.

Police believed McCallion was responsible for a series of commercial property burglaries in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui over the past month.

Mr Brazier said that although McCallion was transient, he had a number of close associates in the Tauranga area, including local Outland gang members.

McCallion was a heavy methamphetamine user and should not be approached, he added.

Mr Brazier said police feared the locksmith thieves planned to use the key-cutting equipment and documents relating to dozens of local businesses to carry out further burglaries.

"This has been a carefully planned and executed burglary," he said.

"These people knew exactly what they were doing."

The documents included key codes for a number of businesses and about $10,000 worth of key-cutting equipment. The locksmith was trying to contact affected businesses, he said.

Some might have to replace their locks, Mr Brazier said.

The offenders had disconnected the alarm and forced their way into the building through a side door, removing a steel bar allowing entry into the workshop area.

Mr Brazier said the locksmith was in an industrial area, so it was not surprising that no witnesses had come forward yet.

However, police were offering a reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of those responsible and the recovery of any of the stolen property.

"The size of the reward will depend on the quality of the information," he said.

"Any information will be treated in complete confidence.

"We do not like the idea of this equipment and information being in the hands of people who could use them for nefarious purposes."

- NZPA