A neighbour who heard a car alarm and spotted three people running from a vehicle in Papatoetoe is being praised by Police for their quick thinking.

During the early hours of Monday morning Police received a call from a person who saw a group of people running along Wintere Road and the sound of an alarm blaring.

Counties Manukau West Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Mohammed Atiq, says Police arrived within a couple of minutes and sighted two vehicles which had been tampered with.

Whanganui Police have arrested two people following an extensive investigation into a series of dishonesty and wilful damage offences targeting local dairies and businesses across the district. 

The arrests were made yesterday after staff from the Whanganui Retail Crime Unit, Tactical Crime Unit, and Field Intelligence officers executed a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into multiple shoplifting, theft, and wilful damage incidents.