As Dunedin police arrested and charged a 24-year-old man with shoplifting at the Gardens New World in North Dunedin yesterday, alarm bells began to ring.
Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd said the fire alarm was set off by another customer in the store about 11.30am, and when staff approached the man, he ran.
A staff member gave chase, but lost sight of him in the University of Otago student area, he said.
Investigations led police to an address in "the Gardens area" where a 28-year-old man was charged with making a false alarm of fire.
Snr Sgt Lloyd said in an unexpected twist, the 28-year-old man turned out to be the older brother of the man charged with shoplifting.
The brothers will appear in the Dunedin District Court later this week.
