Police have charged two people after receiving reports of mail allegedly being stolen from homes in parts of east Auckland.
Sergeant Brett Meale of Howick Police says the pair are before the courts in relation to such incidents in Bucklands Beach.
“Police responded to reports of two people believed to be going through mailboxes and taking the contents at about 4.15pm on June 25,” he says.
“Police monitored the pair and provided updates to responding officers who located them in Pakuranga and took both into custody without incident.”
Meale says a 25-year-old female and a 41-year-old male were to appear in the Manukau District Court charged with theft.
“This was an excellent demonstration of teamwork between different areas of policing and we’re pleased to have brought a resolution to those in the community who may have been impacted,” he says.
“We also thank the member of the public who reported the incident.
“We know this will have caused some concern, and we encourage anyone who notices any damage or suspicious activity outside their house or their neighbours’ property at any time of day or night, to please contact police.”
The arrests follow incidents of members of the public finding mail that had been stolen from homes in Howick and handing it in to the Howick Police station in Cook Street.
Meale previously told the Times mail and courier parcels were being found dumped in various locations and he asked residents to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour.
“Each time it had been found at a bus stop around the area,” he said.
“The mail handed in to us has come from a number of houses in Cook Street, Rodney Street and Howe Street.
“The enquiries we’ve made are that the mail that was missing has been stolen, but the stuff that’s been handed in we’ve delivered to the owners with a letter saying their mail has been opened and handed in to us.”
Meale said residents should be aware of a thief potentially following a postie as they deliver the mail.
“We’ve had other incidents of where a courier drops off a parcel on a doorstep and people are following the courier around.
“Sometimes they’re wearing a high viz-vest and go in behind and steal the parcel.
“We want people to be aware, and also if they can try and secure their letterbox so someone can’t steal the mail out of it.”
People with information on the theft of mail from homes in east Auckland can phone police on 105 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.
