Motorcycle store ram-raiders arrested

Four Auckland men who allegedly travelled to Hamilton and carried out a ram-raid of a city motorbike store were caught by police before making it back over the Bombays.

Waikato police Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greene said once the four men arrived in the city they allegedly stole a van from the Hamilton suburb of Rototuna at 9.30pm yesterday.

They're then alleged to have driven the van into the side entrance of Honda Hamilton, on Willoughby St, about 3.30am today when they loaded three motorbikes into the back and drove off.

However, a patrol car spotted the stolen van heading north on State Highway 1 at Huntly, while another patrol car was dispatched from Papakura.

The van was eventually pulled over and the four men arrested without incident on SH1 near Hampton Downs.

All three stolen motorbikes were also recovered.

Mr Greene said all four, two who were aged 18, another 19 and 23, were arrested and were to appear in court in Auckland on a variety of charges including burglary, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and a variety of driving charges.

Mr Greene said the incident was a good example of "really good inter-district police work".

By Belinda Feek of the New Zealand Herald

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