Police have made an arrest over a brazen theft from a trade store in Westgate late last month.
The theft, at an address on Northside Drive, was reported around 5.20pm on Sunday 21 January.
°Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ West Relieving Area Commander, Inspector Jason Edwards, says Police have been making extensive enquiries into the incident.
¡°Police allege two people entered the premises, picking up several items, before intentionally setting off the fire alarm and exiting the address with those items.¡±
Police have since reviewed several hours of CCTV footage to identify persons believed to be involved.
As a result of our enquiries, °Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ executed three search warrants across T¨¡maki Makaurau in the last week, and have arrested two females.
¡°The women, aged 42 and 43, are due to appear in the Wait¨¡kere District Court tomorrow, Tuesday 20 February,¡± Inspector Edwards says.
¡°They have been charged with multiple counts of shoplifting, as well as the charge of giving false alarm of fire.¡±
A 35-year-old male who is currently remanded in custody on unrelated matters has also been charged in relation to this incident.
Inspector Edwards says Police understand this was a frustrating incident for the business impacted, as well as others who were in the premises at the time.
¡°It is a serious offence to knowingly give false alarm of a fire, and to use it as a distraction to allegedly take items from a business is concerning.
¡°We thank those who were impacted on the day for their patience and hope these arrests bring reassurance to those who were there.
¡°I would also like to commend our staff for their work in identifying the alleged offenders and holding them to account.¡±
ENDS.
Anna Thompson/51½ÖÉä