File pic Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Four young people were arrested soon after a Hamilton business was burgled once police had been alerted to a ram raid spotted by those monitoring the council's CCTV system.
Police were quickly on the scene of a business in Barton Street just before 10.30pm on Monday after reports a vehicle was being used to gain access to it.
The alleged offenders escaped in another vehicle. The driver ignored police orders to stop the vehicle and also continued to flee despite the use of road spikes.
"Shortly after, the vehicle has crashed into a parked car and the occupants, who were not injured from the crash, fled on foot," a police spokesperson said in a statement.
One person was arrested at the scene and another three were tracked by a police dog team and arrested soon after.
The youths were also alleged to have carried out the aggravated robbery of a dairy on Avalon Drive at 7.30pm, on the same evening.
Two offenders entered the store armed with a hammer and a crowbar and stole cash from the till before fleeing in a stolen vehicle, the spokesperson said.
The offenders were due to face several charges when they appeared in the Hamilton Youth Court today.
Hamilton Area manager for youth and community senior sergeant Scott McKenzie said the council's cooperation with police meant they were able to receive information in real time and act quickly.
"This was critical in the fast apprehension of those involved with the camera operator detecting the offending as it was happening.
"Police take ram raids and aggravated robberies seriously and investigate every reported occurrence and receiving real time information from our partners and the community assists us in holding those who commit these offences to account."
Council's director of City Safe Kelvin Powell said trying to keep Hamiltonians safe was a 24/7 job.
"We're also pleased that with further support from central government, we're able to continue to expand our CCTV network, and increase our ability to assist police with tracking and locating offenders in real time."