Northland police have found tens of thousands of dollars of stolen property and are now on the hunt for fleeing drivers probably linked to the haul, which they say points toward organised criminal activity.
About midday yesterday, as they searched a property in Ohawini Bay near Oakura, police found the stolen property, including a cabin, a small digger, timber, water tanks and construction tools and equipment.
As officers searched, a 35-year-old man arrived but immediately fled in a vehicle along the beach. A police pursuit was abandoned because of the risk to the public.
And about 3pm yesterday, a highway patrol officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle on State Highway One near Salmon Rd, Ruakaka. When the officer tried to arrest the driver on an outstanding warrant, the driver took off at high-speed.
A third fleeing driver yesterday afternoon escaped police when they abandoned their chase after a 32-year-old man was seen at a Whangarei service station taking groceries. Again the pursuit was too risky.
