Police allegedly recovered illegal drugs while searching for electronic items stolen from a group of tourists staying in east Auckland.
Counties Manukau East Police area commander, Inspector Rod Honan, says the Chinese nationals were visiting New Zealand for a long-anticipated holiday.
They were “left feeling grateful” after one police officer went “above and beyond the call of duty”, he says.
The family arrived in New Zealand in July and had been staying in a rental property in Mellons Bay when they were the victims of a burglary.
A number of items were stolen, including an iPad, MacBook and laptops.
One of the laptops contained an important document for the victim’s work.
Honan says constable Daniel Yee, of Counties Manukau East Police’s tactical crime unit, was quick to execute a search warrant at a nearby property where the laptop was believed to be.
A number of stolen items were recovered during the search, along with about 34 grams of methamphetamine, 33 grams of cannabis, and cash, Honan says.
“However the laptop containing the important document was not located.
“A forensic examination from the recovered property provided a new line of enquiry and another search warrant was executed at a different address.
“We recovered more stolen property but still hadn’t found the laptop.”
Following further discussions with the property’s occupants, the laptop was eventually handed back to police by one of the suspect’s associates.
“This is a great example of our staff building trust and confidence in our communities,” Honan says.
The laptop was returned to the victim before he went back to China.
As a token of his appreciation, Yee received a handwritten ‘thank you’ note and small gift.
A 38-year-old man from Cockle Bay will face charges in relation to the incident.
