Wood-be chopper sought by police
Monday, March 31:
A large Hitachi digger was taken from the roadside and crashed into a bank on Taotaoroa Rd. It appears to have been used to assist in cutting up firewood, as fresh sawdust was found nearby. Two groups of people are working on firewood in the area and police are following up.
Tuesday, April 1:
A couple entered a local supermarket, loaded up a trolley, then the man left the store. The woman has then suddenly pushed the trolley through the checkouts, ran outside, and thrown the groceries into a car. The couple has then sped away. Police have identified the couple and inquiries are been made in the Waihou area.
A teenager walked into a local dairy, grabbed a cannister of lollies (worth less than $10) and ran away. Police have since spoken to a Matamata College student.
A local man posted on his Facebook page saying he was going to burn down McDonald’s, where he had previously been employed. He hadn’t realised the gravity of the comments until police visited him and issued him with a formal warning.
Thursday, April 3:
A fatality was narrowly avoided after a car driving on Kereone Rd ran a stop sign at the intersection of State Highway 27. The car was cleaned up by a north-bound 40-tonne truck and trailer unit. Fortunately, the truck driver had noticed the car had not slowed down to stop and had already started to brake and position the truck to lessen the impact. The driver of the car was still seriously injured and was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance. Police are investigating the incident and looking at whether alcohol was a factor.
Friday, April 4:
Shortly after midday, a car parked on Hohaia St was broken into. A neatly dressed man in his early-tomid-20s approached the car, smashed the back window, and reached in to take a black Kathmandu jacket, worth about $250. He then started to calmly walk away, until he realised someone had seen him, at which point he sprinted toward Broadway. Police are following up.
A truck ran over a piece of wood on State Highway 24, just outside Matamata. The wood flicked up and punctured the truck’s diesel tank causing a diesel spill from Mangawhero Bridge to Davidson Rd in Te Poi.
Police were called to an accident where a car travelling through road works lost control on loose gravel and rolled on State Highway 24, near Stopford Rd. No one was hurt.
Saturday, April 5:
A Matamata man was assaulted on Mangawhero Rd about 1.50pm. The man had been on a property and asked to leave several times before the assault. A 16-year-old boy was spoken to by police in relation to the incident.
A motorcycle heading south on Firth St collided with a car as it turned into a side street about 8.40pm. The 29-year-old man driving the motorcycle received serious leg injuries and was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance. His passenger was also moderately injured. The driver of the car was not hurt. Police suspect speed and alcohol were major factors.
Sunday, April 6 :
Police were called to a car that had broken down and caught fire on the Kaimai Range. The Matamata Volunteer Fire Brigade also attended. The car was towed off the road.
Monday, March 31
: Alarm activation at Country Lodge.
Tuesday, April 1
: Medical call, cardiac arrest, Te Poi.
Wednesday, April 2
: Medical call, person short of breath.
Thursday, April 3
: Medical call, person with chest pains, industrial area, Mangawhero Rd.
: Fire on road side, Waharoa.
Saturday, April 5
: Petrol spill, Jellicoe Rd.
Sunday, April 6
: Vehicle Range.
: Medical call, heart problems
over
heating on Kaimai
Monday, April 7
: Rubbish fire, Konini Pl.