Invercargill police have arrested a local man after 855 litres of petrol was stolen from a contractor’s yard over the past month.
"Police have been investigating the rising reports of fuel thefts and this quick arrest should be a warning to anyone that commits this type of offending: we’ll hold you to account," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Scott MacKenzie said in a statement.
The yard was a target four times between March 28 and April 5.
The first alleged theft involved the use of a stolen motor vehicle where 400 litres was loaded into jerry cans.
"[Yesterday] when police executed a search warrant at the offender’s address, they recovered 11 20-litre jerry cans used in the thefts.
"We’re happy to have nabbed this suspect quickly and been able to recover some of the stolen fuel."
A 32-year-old man appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, theft over $1000, two counts of theft between $500 and $1000, theft under $500 and failure to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.
"This follows the arrest of two men ... relating to a number of fuel thefts and I want to reassure the community that we are committed to disrupting this type of crime and holding offenders to account," Acting Det Snr Sgt MacKenzie said. — Allied Media
