Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Acting Inspector Mel Robertson, Southland Area Prevention Manager:
Southland Police have arrested and charged two youth following a ram raid in Otatara, south of Invercargill.
About 4.35am on Thursday 2 July, Police were called to Dunns Road after a vehicle had been used to unlawfully enter a commercial premises.
The alleged offenders have targeted alcohol and other items before leaving the area in two vehicles.
At about 5.10am, Police saw a vehicle of interest travelling at an excessive speed in Invercargill.
The vehicle was signalled to stop, however it failed to do so.
A pursuit was not initiated due to the manner of driving.
Sometime later, Police located the vehicle abandoned on Bain Street after colliding with a parked vehicle.
The second vehicle was also located abandoned, on Joseph Street.
With assistance from Police Dog Units, officers tracked and located two youth who were taken into custody without incident.
This was excellent work by frontline staff, who responded quickly to an incident and working together to identify, locate, and apprehend those believed to be responsible.
Police understand these incidents can have a significant impact on local businesses and the wider community, and we hope these arrests provide reassurance that Police are holding alleged offenders accountable.
Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing, and Police are not ruling out further arrests.
Police ask anyone who may have information in relation to this incident to please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, or call 105, and reference file number 260702/8410.
Two youth are due to appear in Youth Court at a later date.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/03/two-youth-arrested-following-ram-raid-otatara/