Police on top of burglary spree

ON THE JOB: More legs are on the burglary beat in Masterton - literally.

Plain-clothes patrols and police dogs are helping curb an increase in Masterton burglaries.

After a rise in day-time burglaries, police deployed extra patrols around town to locate the thieves.

Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said burglaries had been "appearing to climb, not dramatically, but appearing to climb" in the Masterton area.

"Police have increased plain-clothes patrols around the town in an attempt to identify these people who are breaking into people's homes while they are at work."

As a result, police arrested three youths on Wednesday following a burglary in South Rd, Masterton, Mr Bysouth said.

The young men allegedly were earlier spotted carrying a laptop wrapped in a hoodie.

After being alerted to the burglary in South Rd, police said they returned to search the men's house and discovered property taken in at least two other day-time burglaries.

Two of the youths have been referred to youth justice.

Another youth was arrested on Wednesday night after allegedly trying to steal a child's motorcycle from Langlands Motorcycles in Masterton.

Mr Bysouth said police were alerted to the break-in after reports of glass breaking.

Two teenagers were spotted on the building's roof. They had tried to remove the motorcycle from the yard, police said.

Police cordoned off the area as both "bolted" but one accused was tracked and caught by Wairarapa's other police dog, Link.

The dogs were a vital tool, Mr Bysouth said: "They are absolutely crucial ... to have a police dog with us which was able to track an offender as quickly as they did - it's another weapon in our armoury."

The young man was arrested and referred to youth justice. The other offender has yet to be located.

Link also proved his worth a second time that night, when his handler stopped a vehicle on Ngaumutawa Rd.

The driver fled on foot but was tracked by Link who found the man near Renall St.

A 24-year-old Masterton man has been arrested and charged with failing to stop, dangerous driving, refusing to give blood and exceeding the speed limit.