Umbrellas not only bring bad luck indoors, but they’re also bringing charges after a series of burglaries.
The North Shore Tactical Crime Unit have been investigating burglaries across Northcote on Auckland’s North Shore, Inspector Aron McKeown, Waitematā East Area Commander, says.
In at least one instance the offender allegedly used a conspicuous accessory to hide his identity: an umbrella.
“It is alleged the offender has targeted Asian victims and taken large amounts of cash in this spate of burglaries,” Inspector McKeown says.
“One victim was home at the time a burglary was occurring, confronting the man before he fled the scene.”
North Shore TCU have been investigating, conducting area canvasses including reviewing CCTV footage.
Inspector McKeown says the investigation led Police to a house in Ōtara.
“A search warrant was executed and Police located tens of thousands of dollars in cash.”
“A 57-year-old man has been charged with four burglary offences and investigations into further offending remain ongoing.”
The man has been remanded in custody and will reappear in the North Shore District Court in January next year.
Police are continuing to hold offending to account across the wider North Shore.
“Burglary rates are down around six per cent in the past 12 months, compared to the previous period,” Inspector McKeown says.
“It’s a pleasing result, and I acknowledge our hard-working Tactical Crime Unit in investigating and piecing together who was responsible for these crimes.”
