A man who stole more than $200,000 worth of jewellery, mainly from residential homes across the Nelson Bays and Tasman area, including Richmond, Brightwater and Appleby, has been arrested.
His offending also took him to Picton and Blenheim.
Christopher Payne, 38, was located on Monday, May 28, in Tötara Flats, near Greymouth, after being spotted by a passing police patrol car around 2.30pm.
Recognising a car that was used during a burglary in Motueka on Friday, May 25, police followed the car before the driver pulled over.
Two men fled from the car on foot onto a rural property.
A police dog team located them on the property and the pair were arrested.
Police had four warrants to arrest Christopher Payne for 19 burglaries in the Nelson Bays area since January, in which more than $200,000 jewellery was taken.
He also faces two drugs-related charges.
He is due to appear in the Greymouth District Court on June 13.
The driver of the car, Daniel Taaffe, had a warrant for arrest in April for breaching his conditions.
On Monday, May 28, 36-year-old Daniel was charged with four counts of burglary in May – two in Nelson Bays, one in Greymouth and another in Hokitika, as well as failing to stop and dangerous driving.
He is due to appear in Christchurch District Court on June 18.
The arrests come as a huge relief to police and to the men’s victims across the Nelson Bays and Tasman area.
“The jewellery stolen by Christopher Payne included items of great sentimental value, some of which had belonged to victims’ deceased family members,” says Nelson Bays tactical Crime Unit sergeant Dale Smith.
“The burglaries have had a huge impact on people who have lost items they may never see again and victims have been appreciative of the work done by police.
“It’s pleasing that we have been able to hold these offenders to account, thanks to the great work by Nelson Bays Police and Greymouth Police who arrested the pair,” says Dale.
A lot of the jewellery has not been recovered but police and residents alike are pleased Payne’s spree has ended.
Police encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of theft to contact their local Police station.
If you see a crime being committed, call 111 in the first instance.
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