Police have arrested two men after a major crime spree in which ten of thousands of dollars worth of property and cash were stolen from dozens of Hastings businesses over the past four months.
Police believed the pair were responsible for between 80 and 90 burglaries of retail and commercial businesses, workshops, schools, shops, and wineries in Hawke's Bay, since November last year, Detective Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said.
They allegedly broke into buildings to target tills containing cash and would then steal other items of value, he said.
The pair were arrested early yesterday after they allegedly burgled Waipawa Timbers in Omahu Rd, Hastings.
They were also suspected of breaking into the Napier Aquatic Centre earlier that night, Mr Moorhouse said.
Police searched a Hastings address finding about $20,000 worth of property including tills, cash boxes, electrical items and children's sports equipment.
Approximately $20,000 in cash stolen, had not been recovered.
Police also estimated that $28,000-30,000 worth of damage had been done to the building broken into.
Mr Moorhouse described the arrests and property recovery as "significant".
"This has been a major operation for Hastings police and we believe these two have allegedly been responsible for the majority of commercial burglaries and break-ins right throughout the district in recent months."
Police had identified some owners of the property, but would like to find the owners of other items, he said.
Two 31-year-old men from the Hastings suburb Flaxmere were remanded after appearing in Hastings District Court today facing burglary charges.
