Man caught stealing copper from Old Horowhenua Hospital
Kajal Nair
, RNZ
Photo:
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A man allegedly tried to steal copper piping from the Old Horowhenua Hospital has been caught, thanks to a caretaker.
The caretaker spotted the man at the hospital complex on Saturday morning and called the police.
The police said the man fled the scene, leaving behind bags of copper.
Police were making enquiries in the area which encouraged the suspect to hand himself in later.
The offender is now facing five charges of burglary and is due to appear in the Levin District court on Monday.
The old hospital buildings, now used by community groups, have been targeted several times in the recent months, police said.
On Thursday, the main water supply to the site was cut off during another burglary attempt and the damage repairs were estimated to be around $20,000.
The burglaries have caused thousands of dollars of damage so far and undermines the infrastructure of the building.
Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie O'Brien said the police were grateful for the public help in locating the offender.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Several historic gravestones vandalised at Auckland cemetery
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Several historic gravestones have been vandalised at a cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Parnell on Monday. Police said they received a report just after 5pm that at least eight gravestones at St Stephen's Chapel had been pushed over and broken up. Auckland Council area operation manager, Martin Wong, said they were aware of the incident. "This is a disgraceful act and our hearts go out to the descendants of those lying in rest here," he said. "The graves are maintained by volunteers, whose efforts have been helped by two Auckland Council grants over the last six years. "The council manages the land, gardens and trees at this closed cemetery site, but does not look after the graves, as these are private property owned by the descendants. That said, we will assist to sensitively tidy up the damage and assist the police with their enquiries." He said they were also investigating damage to council-owned toilets at the nearby Judges Bay over the weekend, where sinks, taps, and toilets were removed. Anyone with information was asked to report it to police online or call 105 using the reference number 250707/2117. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland man facing serious charges after using stolen car to allegedly ram police vehicle
Photo: Supplied / NZ Police A man is facing serious charges after allegedly ramming a police car with a stolen vehicle in Auckland on Tuesday. The incident occurred during a traffic stop after the car ran a red light near Carbine Road in Mt Wellington at 2.20am. "One of our frontline units signalled this vehicle to stop, and after driving erratically it came to a stop," Relieving Counties Manukau East Area Commander, Inspector Rakana Cook said. "It's at this point the four-wheel drive was allegedly used to repeatedly ram our patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene." A police investigation tracked the driver to an address on Puhinui Road in Papatoeoe, before the man attempted to flee on foot. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police The 44-year-old was arrested and now faces serious charges in the Manukau District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with two counts of assault with a blunt instrument, resisting police, failing to stop, unlawfully taking a vehicle and reckless driving. Cook said police had no tolerance for such reckless and violent behaviour directed at their staff. "I'd like to acknowledge our staff involved who were going about their duties in keeping our community safe," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Mt Eden prison murder-accused and victim both known to mental health services
Photo: RNZ / Tim Watkin The Mt Eden prisoner killed last month and the cellmate who's been accused of his murder were both known to mental health services, it can be revealed. The victim's father says he wants to know how the two men came to share a cell. "If he hadn't been double bunked with this person he would still be with us. "That was the fault of Corrections. Corrections are supposed to care for people, and they had a duty of care to him, and they failed miserably on that." And in a surprising twist, the woman who was harassed by the victim for about a decade agrees. She says he should have been in a secure psychiatric facility "instead of being placed in the same environment as violent offenders". Do you know more? Email The inmate was killed at Auckland's Mt Eden Corrections Facility on 27 June. A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder. Corrections earlier said the inmate was in a double-bunked cell. RNZ can now reveal that both men were known to mental health services. The victim had recently been in a mental health unit in Whangārei as part of a compulsory treatment order and was in custody after breaching bail, and the murder-accused had a history with mental health services. The victim's father told RNZ his son was jailed in relation to breaching the conditions of a restraining order. He was eventually released and spent two weeks in a mental health facility in Whangārei before he was granted electronically-monitored bail to an apartment. He said that while at the mental health facility his son's medication was changed and he was "making good progress". However, he breached his conditions again and was arrested, spending three days in Northland Region Corrections Facility before being moved to Mt Eden. The man spent three days in Northland Region Corrections Facility before being moved to Mt Eden. Photo: The victim's father had been told that the alleged killer had a history with mental health services. He wants to know why the two men were placed in the same cell. "It was a complete failure of the duty of care to my son." He said growing up his son was a "good sportsman", but struggled holding down a job as he got older due to his mental health. "But we were hoping that with the new treatment he had, that he might improve there. It was just his mental health which held him back." He believed his son's mental health problems were "treatable". Corrections deputy commissioner Neil Beales said in a statement to RNZ an investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate was being carried out. All deaths in custody are referred to the coroner for investigation and determination of cause of death. "We acknowledge that many people will have questions and want answers about the circumstances that preceded this person's death. The court proceedings, investigations and the Coronial Inquest will form an important part of this process. "These proceedings all play a role in providing detailed, expert and impartial views of the circumstances surrounding a person's death. If there are agreed findings and recommendations in relation to our management of the victim or the accused, then we will absolutely act on these." Corrections deputy commissioner Neil Beales. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell said as the matter was before the court, with reviews under way, it was not appropriate for him to provide any further comment at this time. "My thoughts are with family and friends, and everyone impacted by this sad event." In response to questions from RNZ, a Health New Zealand spokesperson said "we acknowledge this incident". "We are unable to consider commenting on a person's medical treatment without a privacy waiver." A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said HNZ was best placed to respond from a health perspective. As the matter was subject to court proceedings and there are reviews underway, Doocey was unable to comment further at this time. Speaking to RNZ, Lauren (not her real name) says the victim, who she had never met, had been harassing her for about a decade before his death, sending her messages to all her social media accounts a few times a year. Then in 2021 it "took off", with the man sending things to her workplace, her family and even colleagues. The messages also became "very sexual", as well as comments that he would track her down, she said. Lauren never responded to the man. She said the man was initially issued a criminal harassment notice by police in Whangārei, which he breached. In September last year, she was granted a restraining order. However, the man breached the order after contacting a friend of Lauren's in April. Lauren reported the breach to police. The man was eventually arrested on two charges of non-compliance with a restraining order and failure to carry out obligations in regards to a search. He appeared in the Auckland District Court on 21 May seeking readmission onto electronic monitored bail. A court victim advisor told Lauren the application had been declined and he had been remanded in custody until 30 July. The man appeared in the Auckland District Court on 21 May seeking readmission onto electronic monitored bail. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi "At this stage, the court continues to wait for receipt of the x2 fitness reports which will determine whether the defendant is fit to stand trial." Lauren said she was in "disbelief" when she was told that the man had died. "It took a minute to kind of just process things, because it's, you know, it wasn't the call I was expecting." She does not think the man should have been in prison, and says someone like him should not have had a cellmate. "Anybody who's under mental health, and who's unpredictable, or that they're not sure what they're capable of, should not be having cellmates… They should be kept on their own. For their own safety, and the safety of others." She believed both the health system and justice system had been "grossly incompetent". "I can only look at the outcomes and it doesn't seem to be working." She said the harassment she received from the man was "extremely stressful". RNZ earlier revealed a case involving a man who has twice been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for two separate killings. After that article, chief victims advisor Ruth Money called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities. Chief victims advisor Ruth Money. Photo: Stephanie Creagh Photography Last month, a suppression order was lifted allowing media to report another mental health patient, Elliot Cameron, had killed two people 50 years apart . Following the revelations, Money said she stood by her recommendation. "The public deserves an inquiry that can give actionable expert recommendations, as opposed to multiple coroners' inquests and recommendations that do not have the same binding influence. The patients themselves, and the public will be best served by an independent inquiry, not another internal review that changes nothing." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
