Ambulance petrol thieves once again put community lives at risk

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 676, 4 March 1997, Page 5

Ambulance petrol thieves once again put community lives at risk

Waimarino • Last Monday night the petrol cap was forced off the ambulance and most of the petrol was syphoned from it. The ambulance was parked at its base in Queen Street at the time. This is the second time in the past couple of months that this has occurred. Obviously police are concerned about this as it also endangers the

lives of others. • On 27 March an 18-year-old Marton man was arrested after being pursued several kilometres along State Highway 49 and through Ohakune in a stolen vehicles. He crashed at the intersection with Burns Street,

decamped from the vehicle and shortly afterwards attempted to take another vehicle in Burns Street which had the keys in its ignition. With the assistance of members of the public he was prevented from taking this vehicle and was apprehended.

Police would like to thank all the members of the public who assisted in controlling the crash scene, searching for and subsequently apprehending the offender. This also highlights why people should not leave their vehicles unattended with the keys in the ignition. • It was a bad week for burglaries in the area. Overnight Monday a house in Marino Street, Rangataua was entered and a stereo and video stolen. In the early hours of Thursday morning, six business premises in Clyde Street were burgled and one premises in Raetihi. Enquiries have ascertained that a man wearing a balaclava was seen wandering around in Clyde Street at about 5am. Police would welcome further information. • Monday night a Raetihi man was arrested for assaulting his female partner. • On W ednesday a Lower Hutt man was arrested after his car was stopped and he was found to be in possession of LSD, cannabis oil, 'cannabis seeds and was also a disqualified driver.

• There was a burglary reported at the Ohakune i Primary School and overnight Friday a house in j Burns Street was burgled. The offender smashed a , ranch slider to gain entry and suffered cuts in the process as blood was left at the scene. A window at Ohakune Engineering was also smashed and blood found at the scene. • A Honda water pump was stolen from a roadworks site on Rangataua Road. Waiouru • On Tuesday and Upper Hutt man was arrested for threatening language following an incident at the local hotel. • On Thursday an Auckland man was arrested for receiving a stolen cheque book and visa card. • There was a burglary reported at the Waiouru Primary Sehool with a small amount of property stolen. • • There were two crashed during the week. Both occurred on the Desert Road when drivers travelling too fast on roadworks lost control in gravel and rolled their cars.