KEY POINTS:
Police investigating the homicide of Yan Ping Yang have arrested a 28-year-old man in relation to four home invasions.
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said the man faced charges including kidnapping and aggravated robbery but they were not related to Madam Yang's death.
The 80-year-old grandmother died in hospital on June 14, three days after she was left unconscious in the bedroom of her family home following a vicious beating.
Mr Gutry said the 28-year-old was on a list of 100 people to be spoken to in relation to the unsolved homicide.
He said the man had likely monitored the homes he targeted before knocking on the front door.
"He has been saying that they owe money when they don't prior to obtaining cash and jewellery."
Mr Gutry said the man's victims had ranged from a 17-year-old to the elderly and all had been either home alone or looking after young children.
Last week, police released three identikit images of people seen in the area of Madam Yang's house. Mr Gutry said they were yet to locate the three.
He said police had also arrested two others, one a 16-year-old, after they took a large amount of Hong Kong currency into a bank to get it exchanged.
Mr Gutry said the money was stolen during a robbery of a central Auckland home but again the pair had not been linked to the Madam Yang homicide.
He said police were still appealing for information from the public.
