22 June 2011
A man sought after allegedly stealing an historic Otorohanga church bell has been arrested in the King Country.
The 29-year-old unemployed man was found in Te Kuiti yesterday and charged with a variety of offences including last week's theft of the 300-year-old Pembroke Bell from the St Bride's Anglican Church in Otorohanga.
Appearing in court yesterday afternoon the man was remanded in custody in relation to seven burglary, one theft, two driving and one possession of drug utensil offences and will reappear in the Hamilton District Court next month.
The man's arrest follows widespread media coverage of the theft of the bell which resulted in its recovery from an Auckland scrap metal yard a day later.
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