Four young people have appeared in court following an early morning ram-raid in Miramar, with police crediting a dog unit for helping locate the alleged offenders within an hour.
Police were called about 2.10am on Thursday after multiple alarm activations at a store on Tauhinu Rd.
Officers arrived within five minutes and found the front door smashed and a vehicle abandoned at the scene.
A second vehicle of interest was identified through traffic camera footage.
A police dog unit tracked from the store to a Booth St property, where officers located the vehicle, four alleged offenders and a large quantity of stolen alcohol.
Those arrested include a 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds and a 19-year-old. They appeared in Wellington District Court on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and burglary.
All four were granted bail and are due to reappear later this month.
Wellington Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester said the quick response highlighted the value of public reporting and coordinated police work.
“Receiving a 111 call so promptly, and the expert work of our Police dog unit and attending frontline staff, has led to these quick arrests,” he said.
