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Police have derailed a man’s plans, putting him before the court for theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of railway sleepers.
On May 2, witnesses called police after seeing two men removing railway sleepers beside the Glenbrook Vintage Railway line at Cornwall Road in Waiuku.
Sergeant Michael Robinson, of Waiuku Police, says the witnesses managed to record the alleged offender’s number plate as well as video footage, which helped identify one of the men.
“Late last week, police executed a search warrant at a Pukekohe address where a number of railway sleepers were located and seized.”
He says a man was also arrested at the address and will appear in court next month.
“This type of crime is incredibly dangerous for our community, and we are grateful to the vigilant people who called police and were able to gather as much information as possible, helping lead to this arrest.”
Last month Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) took to social media to warn the community that theft of railway sleepers could cause an accident.
“The interference and theft of these items risk a serious accident that could kill people.
Railway sleepers are sought after for landscape gardening, and we urge people to only buy sleepers through reputable sellers, as well as pass on any information of suspected stolen sleepers,” GVR said on social media.
GVR said it has had dozens of instances of graffiti, vandalism, theft and other property damage over the past year.
Anyone who notices any offending or suspicious behaviour is urged to contact police online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 or via our 105 phone service.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
A 64-year-old man will appear in Pukekohe District Court on June 12, charged with theft and trespassing.
Enquiries remain ongoing to identify and locate the second person.
