Taupō boats tampered with at marina: Man arrested after jumping into river

A man has been arrested after multiple boats were tampered with at Taupō Marina.

Police were called about 9am Sunday when a boat owner discovered his vessel untied.

Further investigation revealed that several other boats had also been interfered with, a statement from police said.

Taupō boaties are being urged to report instances of tampering. Photo/ Coastguard Lake Taupō

Coastguard Lake Taupō volunteers alerted the police to a potential suspect. When officers tried to speak with the man, he jumped into the water and swam across the Waikato River to the Nukuhau side.

He then re-entered the river and swam back to the Taupō side.

After emerging from the water, the man climbed a tree and claimed to be stuck.

As a precaution, Fire and Emergency NZ and an ambulance were called to help with the man’s extraction from the tree branch.

Police are appealing to boaties in the area to report any instances of their vessels being interfered with

They are also urging anyone with information that could help with the inquiries to contact them online or call 105, referencing the number P060643157.

- SunLive