Crimeline: Drunken Aussies mistaken for burglars
Drunken Aussies mistaken for burglars
Two 24-year-old overindulging, heavily-intoxicated Australian men sparked a burglary call-out after they were seen banging on the door and trying to break into a St Matthews Place property on Queenstown Hill just before 7.30pm on Saturday, 6 September. Sergeant Tracy Haggart says when Police arrived, they found “one very intoxicated male standing in the middle of the road, verbally abusive and aggressive”. Another very intoxicated man was found asleep in the doorway of the property. “It appears that due to their intoxication they were mistakenly trying to enter the wrong property,” she says. A suitcase and duffel bag belonging to them was found 100m down the road. Both men were taken to Lakes District Hospital by St John Ambulance for monitoring.
Cigarette sets car alight while couple picnic
A romantic picnic on the beach at the end of Homestead Bay, Jack’s Point, ended at 7.15pm on Monday, 8 September, when the Mini Cooper the couple had parked near the lake caught fire, leaving it completely burnt out. Haggart says the man had gone to grab a bottle of water from the passenger seat of the car, leaning in to grab it while he was smoking a cigarette. He then closed the door. “On their return to the car a short time later it was full of smoke. When the doors were opened the car quickly engulfed in flames,” she says. Frankton Fire Brigade were called to the scene, but the vehicle was completely burnt out.
Woman picking fights assaults another woman
A 24-year-old Invercargill woman was charged with assault after acting aggressively and trying to instigate fights with members of the public in Church Lane at 12.45am on Sunday, 7 September. The woman allegedly approached another woman unknown to her and began yelling and screaming at her and punched her in the face, causing the victim to stumble and almost fall over, Haggart says. She will appear in the Invercargill District Court on Tuesday, 16 September.
Fast track first responders
A late-night argument between two Hallenstein Street hotel guests over a noise complaint prompted one of them – a 41-year-old Christchurch man, to set off the hotel fire alarm. Haggart says the man claimed he “wanted to get hold of emergency services but couldn’t on his phone”. Police inquiries into the incident that occurred between 12.35am and 1.43am on Friday, 5 September, are continuing.
Cromwell shoplifter caught with cannabis
A 33-year-old Cromwell man, wanted in connection with allegedly shoplifting over $300 worth of food and grocery items from PAK'nSAVE Queenstown on 30 August was located in his vehicle on Marine Parade, Queenstown, at 1.30pm on Sunday, 7 September. Haggart says Police noticed the strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and a search found cannabis and a cannabis pipe. The man was charged with two counts of shoplifting, possession of cannabis and possession of a cannabis utensil. He will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 20 October.
