Crimeline - car theft, arson, break-ins
Police believe the Subaru vehicle torched and completely burnt out in an apparent arson at Seven Mile on the Glenorchy Road during the early hours of Saturday, 7 December, was stolen earlier that night.
Constable Amanda Shute says at around 4.25am Fire NZ alerted Police to a well involved vehicle fire at the Seven Mile Delta Reserve car park. A Subaru was stolen from Earnslaw Street sometime overnight on 6 and 7 December.
Fire and Emergency Otago Lakes Group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says Queenstown volunteer firefighters were at the scene, near Closeburn, for about an hour and used breathing apparatus for protection as the vehicle was well engulfed upon arrival.
No number plates were visible, and the vehicle was completely burnt out, he says. It had all the hallmarks of arson, so Police were called. “It was a total wreck,” McQuillan says.
Shute says Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour around the Seven Mile at that time or around Earnslaw Street overnight on 6 and 7 December. (Please call 105)
Kelvin Heights car break-ins again
Police also want to hear from anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour in the Bay View-Peninsula Road area of Kelvin Heights on Friday night, 6 December, after two vehicles were broken into there. Shute says the rear quarter light window of the first vehicle was broken and the ignition barrel tampered with. The driver’s door lock and the ignition barrel on the second vehicle was damaged.
Four times the legal limit
The same night (6 December) at 10.50pm a driver stopped by Police in Lake Avenue, Frankton, allegedly blew 960mcg – almost four times the legal limit. A 25-year-old local man had his licence automatically suspended for 28 days, has been charged and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 16 December.
Runaway drink driver
A runaway drink driver who thought he could run faster than the Police was found hiding behind a bush after making a run for it on foot when asked to accompany Police for breath testing at 2.55am on Friday, 6 December, in Goldfield Heights.
Shute says the vehicle had been stopped for a licence and alcohol check and an initial breath screening returned a result over 400mcgs. Once the driver was located a further breath test produced 517mcgs.
A 27-year-old male was charged with failing to remain stopped for an enforcement officer and driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcgs/litre of breath. He appeared in the Queenstown District Court on 9 December, was convicted and sentenced to a $500 fine and six months disqualification from driving.
*The legal alcohol limit is 250mcg. Anything over 400mcg goes to court and the driver receives a mandatory 12-month disqualification.
French tourist crashes twice into parked vehicles
A 29-year-old French tourist got off with a formal warning after crashing into a parked vehicle in Robins Road, then continuing on to crash into another parked vehicle on Weaver Street at 11.40am on Monday, 9 December. Shute says there was no alcohol involved, and the driver was given a formal warning for careless driving.
Critical patient airlifted to Christchurch
A 23-year-old man was airlifted in a critical condition to Christchurch Hospital after a fall at Peninsula Road, Kawarau Falls at 5.23am on Sunday morning, 8 December. The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter and a St John Ambulance responded. Police were called to assist but stood down.
A St John media spokesperson says it was understood to be a ‘fall-related’ incident. No further details could be provided.
Late night fight
A 19-year-old man arrested by Police for fighting in Searle Lane just before 2am on Saturday, 7 December, also received a formal warning. Shute says a verbal argument broke out between him and another male which turned physical.
