Arrests after Levin home invasion

Two Otaki men have been remanded in custody after being charged in relation to a home invasion in Levin last month.

Police are hunting for three others they think were involved.

About 5.45am on November 28, five masked people forced their way into the home and assaulted a 40-year-old man, before tying him up along with his elderly parents and then ransacking their house and stealing money.

Members of the armed offenders squad and plain clothed and uniform police simultaneously raided two Otaki houses on Tuesday, arresting the men aged 39 and 41.

Both appeared in Levin District Court jointly charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping and aggravated injury. A short time after the first two raids, a search warrant was executed on a third house in Otaki where a 38-year-old was arrested and charged with unrelated drugs offences.

Detective Darcy Park, of the Levin Criminal Investigation Branch, said the arrests went "as smooth as silk' and now the search would concentrate on the other three alleged offenders.

Mr Park said apart from the cash that was stolen, an estimated $5000 worth of jewellery, computer and firearms had been found dumped not far from the victims' home. A vehicle stolen during the robbery was found at Otaki Beach later in the day of the home invasion.

- Peter Franklin of the Horowhenua Chronicle