More than $4000 worth of items allegedly stolen from four vehicles were recovered from a crashed car occupied by four young people, police say.
Te Anau police arrested two men, aged 19 and 26, one of whom was on community detention, and also a 21-year-old woman who had a warrant issued for her arrest.
They were expected to appear in the Invercargill District Court today on four charges of theft from vehicles.
The fourth occupant of the car, aged 16, was referred to police youth aid.
Te Anau police investigated the thefts of items valued at between $1000 and $1300 per vehicle from four vehicles at the Lake Te Anau control gates, which access the Kepler Track, on Saturday.
Shortly afterwards, police were sent to a crash on the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway, about 1km east from the town.
Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, said on arrival police found three intoxicated people who refused medical help and "did not appreciate police presence".
Many items were found in the crashed car and linked to the earlier thefts.
A 19-year-old man from the Gore area was found nearby and charged with dangerous driving.
