Officers in east Auckland got more than they bargained for after nabbing not one but two shoplifters yesterday.

Police received a call regarding a suspected shoplifter attempting to leave a supermarket in Botany Downs yesterday afternoon.

Senior Sergeant Simon Cornish, Counties Manukau East Police, says officers arrived and quickly located the alleged offender.

“A search of her vehicle located a number of items, which we believe had also been stolen from several other stores at Botany.”

Police can now release the name of the man who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Factory Road, Temuka, on the evening of 22 April.

He was 35-year-old Adrian John Lester of Temuka.

Police extend our deepest condolences to Adrian’s family, loved ones, and friends in this time of loss.

The circumstances of the crash continue to be investigated, and Adrian’s death has been referred to the Coroner.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

A person has been located deceased near the wharf at Kaipara Harbour on Shelly Beach Road.

The person was located at around 2.45pm on 26 April.

While formal identification is yet to be carried out, Police believe it is the man who was missing after entering the water on 19 April.

Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

Police would like to thank all those who assisted with the search for the man.

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Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Charges have been laid following two separate incidents where motorists were followed, forced to stop and then threatened with a firearm.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Bergin says the incidents happened on Saturday 25 April in Northland and Waitematā.

“Two people have been arrested and are due to appear in the North Shore District Court on 4 May on a number of charges related to this offending, including intentional damage, dangerous driving, possession of methamphetamine for supply, and committing an imprisonable offence with a weapon.

One person has died following a single vehicle crash in Kapuni this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the crash at the intersection of Skeet Road and Palmer Road at around 12.10pm.

The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene.

Motorists are advised to continue taking alternate routes where possible.

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Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Yardley, Taupō Area Investigations Manager:

Five people are before the courts after a building fire in Taupō on Sunday.

At around 5.40am Police became aware of the fire, on Tauhara Road, which is believed to have been deliberately lit.

Following initial enquiries, Police believe the property was used to manufacture methamphetamine.

A scene guard was in place overnight and will remain while enquiries continue.

Police are reminding motorists travelling home today to remain alert and keep road safety top of mind.

So far, two people have died on our roads this Anzac weekend.

While that might seem like a low number on paper, that’s two families whose lives have been irreparably changed, says Inspector Peter McKennie, acting Director of Road Policing. 

“Their loved ones are never coming home, and that’s absolutely gutting,” he says.

One person has died following a serious crash in Dunsandel on Thursday.

Emergency services were called to a single vehicle crash on Hororata Dunsandel Road at around 5pm on 23 April.

One person was located with critical injuries and was transported to hospital.

Sadly, they passed away in hospital on Saturday evening.

Police’s enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

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Police have saved a man from near-death after he fell out of a kayak and spent more than two hours in the waters of Waitematā Harbour.

At 3.40am today, a call came in saying two men had fallen from their kayaks while on the way to a moored boat. One managed to reach the boat and eventually raise the alarm, but the other got caught in the currents of the outgoing tide.

Concerningly, the men had fallen into the water two hours earlier, but there was very little additional information, says Senior Sergeant Garry Larsen QSM of the Marine Rescue Centre.