Operation Sundae a sweet success

The sharp eyes of locals and some covert surveillance helped catch a couple of thieves who were making off with thousands of dollars of gear from cars parked at the remote Raspberry Flat car park in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Detective Derek Shaw, Wānaka, says vehicles were being broken into at the car park on and off for some time. He estimates 300 vehicles were hit over a three-year period.

“The vehicles were often parked up there for several days while the owners, mostly tourists, were away tramping. They were being totally cleaned out, often on a Sunday night, and although the thefts were regular there was no set pattern.

“The car park is very remote – up the Mātukituki Valley 51 kilometres from Wānaka – and well out of cell phone and radio range. We tried a couple of things to catch the thieves – we even camped up there a few times,” says Derek.

Under Operation Sundae a covert camera was installed at the car park and local farmers on the three high-country stations located in the valley acted as extra ‘eyes’.

In January this year a run-holder noticed a suspicious vehicle on the road up to the car park. “She noticed it because it wasn’t the usual type of vehicle seen in the area,” says Derek. On that day the camera recorded 120 vehicle movements on the road.

On February 21 the resident saw the vehicle on the road again and phoned Wānaka police who went up the valley to lie in wait for it. The vehicle was spotted, stopped, and found to contain $14,000 of stolen property. Three men were apprehended and subsequently found guilty of theft from cars and interfering with vehicles.

“One of them admitted to carrying out the thefts for the past three-and-a-half years saying they were ‘a great earn’ for them,” says Derek. “They would drive from Invercargill or Christchurch and be in and out in one go.”

Derek appreciates the vigilance of the local community in solving the crimes. “If it wasn’t for the resident reporting the suspicious vehicle to us, backed up with the camera footage we wouldn’t have caught the offenders that day.”