One of New Zealand's most prolific offenders has been nabbed in Ross, after an eagle-eyed member of the public spotted him in the West Coast township.
A squad of 10 police officers descended on the area and arrested the 55-year-old man without incident yesterday.
A car that had been reported stolen was found nearby with "items of interest" inside; these were believed to be alcohol stolen earlier from a Hokitika liquor store.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood, of Greymouth, was today pleased with the arrest and commended the Ross community for its vigilance.
"Yesterday, a very well-known offender who was wanted by police was arrested and locked up. He is appearing in court today on four counts of shoplifting, two counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, one count of receiving and one of burglary. Bail is opposed by police.
"The man has hundreds of convictions, he is one of the most prolific in New Zealand for theft, burglary and fraud," Snr Sgt Kirkwood said.
"His MO (modus operandi) is to offend against tourists hoping they don't come back for the court date. Big kudos to the Ross community."
Constable Mark Watson, of Ross, earlier issued a warning on social media that "there was a transient and prolific car and property thief around our area at present - please lock your vehicles and secure your properties".
The man appeared in the Greymouth District Court this morning and had the case transferred to Invercargill.
The Greymouth Star understands the same man has been apprehended in South Westland on other occasions by police working with the public.
In 2018, the man failed to stop after being spotted driving a stolen vehicle near Bruce Bay. He was wanted in relation to a string of burglaries and thefts, including the Duke Backpackers in Greymouth. The vehicle was later found crashed off the road near Lake Paringa.
The fugitive was located with help of locals, who found him hiding in bush.
In 2008, the man also failed to stop for police at Haast, after being spotted in a car that had been stolen from Gore 10 days earlier.
He dumped the car and decamped, but was spotted days later, hitchhiking towards Central Otago, and the sole Haast policeman arrested the man when he ran off into a paddock.
- By Meg Fulford
