An ''opportunistic'' attempt to steal from an adjoining hotel room led to police uncovering the alleged crime spree of two men on a road trip from Auckland to Queenstown.
Detective Matt Jones, of Queenstown, said the two men, aged 22 and 24, both from Auckland, had checked into an Earl St hotel after arriving in the resort on Wednesday.
Det Jones said at 11.30pm that day the older of the two men went into an adjoining room and likely assumed the room's guests to be out, but when he allegedly went to pick up an iPad he was disturbed by a woman who was staying in the room with her daughter.
The man ran off and has yet to be found by police.
Police were called by hotel staff, who Det Jones said were ''very good'' at handling the situation. Inquiries revealed the connection between the alleged thief and the 22-year-old in the nearby room.
A search of the men's room and their car allegedly uncovered drug equipment and stolen fishing gear, Det Jones said. He said police ''ascertained'' the fishing gear had been stolen from a car near Twizel and the men had also been linked to another car break-in near Auckland.
An allegedly stolen cellphone was also found. Discarded pills found near the room could also be linked to the pair, Det Jones said.
The 22-year-old has been charged with two counts of receiving stolen property and charged with possession of drug utensils for two glass pipes of a type typically used to smoke methamphetamine.
He has been remanded and has since left Queenstown to appear in court in Auckland on Monday.
Police are contacting various colleagues asking about reports of any thefts in their areas during the time the pair might have been passing through.
