Empty stolen bottles of wine in recycling bins led Dunedin
police to the homes of teenagers accused of stealing a haul
of booze.
"Basically, we followed the wine trail," Proactive policing
team sergeant Chris McLellan said yesterday.
Last Thursday, police were called to a break-in at the Edgar
Centre, from which a "reasonable quantity of wine" was
stolen.
Sgt McLellan said the five youths involved appeared to have
been drinking the stolen wine, and sharing it around their
neighbourhood.
"As we started doing our inquiries, we came across the
recycling bins, and all the evidence was out the front of
their properties."
The first recycling bin was located on Prince Albert Rd,
where police arrested two male teenagers at the St Kilda
address.
Police later went to a Surrey St, South Dunedin, address and
recovered more empty wine bottles, and arrested another
youth.
Another two youths are still to be arrested, "but they know
we are coming for them".
All five youths were not attending school or programmes. They
were expected to appear in the Dunedin Youth Court.
Edgar Centre general manager Blair Crawford said the bottles
were taken from a storage area, after a window was smashed to
gain entry.
In total, 27 bottles of wine from Rockburn, Oyster Bay, and
Roaring Meg wineries were taken.
"To be honest I never expected people to be caught, so I am
very impressed."
No full bottles have been recovered.
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