Tourist, 75, granted diversion for shoplifting

The pensioner who sparked a police pursuit of the tour bus she was on has been granted police diversion for shoplifting.

The 75-year-old Taiwanese woman was in Te Anau with a group of tourists on Wednesday when she left a gift shop without paying for a jacket she was wearing.

By the time police arrived, the tour bus had left for Queenstown.

It took Te Anau police constable James Ure 160km to finally attract the attention of the bus driver, who pulled over on the outskirts of Queenstown.

A police spokeswoman told the Southland Times the tourist was yesterday granted diversion.

She told police she thought her husband had paid for the jacket.

- NZPA