Smash and grab pair nabbed

Thieves used a stolen car and horsefloat to raid a Tauranga motorcycle shop but were caught after they were spotted by an off-duty police officer. Police said the officer saw three men smashing a window at Coastline Honda on St John St late Sunday and alerted patrol units.

They said the men smashed the shop's front window with a softball bat and paving stone, and loaded three motorcycles, worth a total of $40,000, into the horsefloat.

Police pursued the men as they fled in a stolen car towing the horsefloat. When a patrol car caught up with them in Mt Maunganui, the stolen car rammed the police vehicle and continued driving.

It was abandoned a short time later, forcing officers to chase the men on foot until they were caught.

A Gisborne man and two men from Tauranga were arrested and charged with burglary and other offences.

Acting Senior Sergeant Darryl Brazier said police wanted to contact two other witnesses believed to have seen the vehicles outside the motorcycle shop about 11.50pm.