Police have poured cold water over a burglar¡¯s break-in at a laundromat overnight.
At around 12.15am, a man allegedly broke into the business near Birkenhead.
Inspector Todd Moore-Carter, Area Prevention Manager for °Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ East Police, says the man allegedly stole property from the business.
¡°Information reported to Police at the time included that the offender had left the scene in a van, which was relayed to staff working across the North Shore.¡±
A Police unit sighted a van matching the description, with incorrect plates, near Glenfield around 30 minutes later.
¡°Staff attempted to get the vehicle to stop, but it drove away at speed,¡± Inspector Moore-Carter says.
A decision was made not to pursue the vehicle and instead it was monitored heading north toward ?rewa.
Inspector Moore-Carter says spikes were successfully deployed as the vehicle exited ?rewa Bridge, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
¡°The driver ran on foot to ?rewa Beach, and our staff were quickly on scene.
¡°He waded into waist-height water, and we continued to engage with him for a short period of time.
¡°Cold hard reality kicked in and he came back to shore to be taken into custody.¡±
Police have since charged the 35-year-old man with burglary and failing to stop, and he will appear in the North Shore District Court today.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/51½ÖÉä