Three Invercargill men are facing multiple theft charges after a short-lived crime spree in Arrowtown earlier this week.
The three were arrested in Kingston on Tuesday after the alleged burglary of The Postmaster's Residence restaurant in the township on Monday evening.
Tasman James Ryan (23) and Leroy Sell-Henriksen (19) appeared before a justice of the peace for a bail hearing in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
They are jointly charged, with the third man, on four charges: burglary of cash and alcohol; stealing tools valued at $400, stealing power tools ($1500) and stealing a beer keg, valued at $380, belonging to La Rumbla restaurant.
Ryan was remanded in custody and Sell-Henriksen remanded on bail, with both due to appear again on Monday.
The Otago Daily Times reported on Tuesday that CCTV footage showed two hooded people entering The Postmaster's Residence about 6.45pm the previous evening.
Senior Sergeant Paula Enoka, of Queenstown, said a painter carrying out renovations in the restaurant had left a door ajar when briefly leaving the premises.
The trio, who allegedly stole four bottles of spirits and about $400 cash, were seen by a witness ''running away'' from the area.
They were arrested after an off-duty officer recognised their car while driving
home.
Police recovered the beer keg and the liquor bottles - ''most of them empty'' - but the cash had gone, Snr Sgt Enoka said.
