Regarding the aggravated burglary that occurred on Thursday afternoon at a Michael Hill jewelry store in Whakatāne, two more people were taken into custody on Friday. Yesterday, after the break-in, four individuals drove off the area. Following a chase, the car they were driving came to a stop on Stanley Road when the police set it on fire. The two other males in the car, ages 21 and 22, fled on foot into the steep woods, and two other men, ages 20 and 21, were apprehended at the spot. A comprehensive search involving police, a dog unit, and search and rescue teams was initiated due to the men’s safety concerns and the hazardous location, according to Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Nicky Cooney. The Eagle police helicopter, equipped with an.
The police Eagle helicopter, equipped with a spotlight, night vision goggles, and an infrared camera, also made the flight from Auckland to the search area. Inspector Cooney stated, “The pair weren’t located despite the significant search effort.” However, someone reported two guys strolling across a paddock along State Highway 2 in Taneatua to police just before 8 a.m. today. “The men once more ran into the bush on foot as the cops approached. “Despite them crossing a river, a police dog unit tracked their scent and led officers to where the men were hiding.” A dog bite victim was attended to on the spot by one of the men. All four guys have subsequently been charged by police with aggravated burglary, according to Cooney. This week, they were present at the Whakatāne District Court.
