Police in Waikato were kept busy with a string of incidents in Raglan in the early hours of Tuesday. (File photo) Photo: 123rf
Seven young people have been arrested after a night of disorder in Raglan, police say.
The arrests followed antisocial road-user behaviour, a car fire and attempted theft, all early on Tuesday morning, Hamilton Area Commander Inspector Andrea McBeth said.
Officers were called to an area near the beach just before 3am, after a vehicle was seen doing burnouts on Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive, McBeth said.
That car was thought to be stolen, she said, and police then received a report that the people in the vehicle doing doughnuts, had then tried to steal another, nearby vehicle, shortly afterwards.
"Police from both Western Waikato and Hamilton City responded, locating the vehicles leaving Raglan," McBeth said.
"The drivers were signalled to stop, however they continued. No pursuit was initiated, instead Police maintained long-range observations of the vehicles."
Road spikes were then used on the vehicles on both Main Road, and then on Mangakino Road - SH23, where those involved abandoned one of the vehicles, before driving to Waitetuna Valley Road and abandoning the other before they were all arrested, McBeth said.
Six young people have been referred to Youth Services, and one is scheduled to appear in Hamilton Youth Court on charges of unlawfully taking a motor-vehicle, and failing to stop for police, she said.
Then, a couple of hours later, a scrub fire started after a vehicle was allegedly set on fire down a bank at Wainui Road, McBeth said.
It was not able to be put out until later in the morning. Police are investigating that incident, too, she said.
"We understand this activity is incredibly frustrating for the community, and we will continue to work hard to identify and arrest those involved."
She stressed that anyone who sees suspicious activity underway should immediately call 111, or report it on 105 if it is after the fact.
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