Police have made numerous arrests and impounded vehicles as a result of an operation targeting illegal dirt bike activity in Auckland during the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Across Sunday and Monday, five arrests were made along with five bikes and one vehicle being impounded during ‘Operation Metallic Red’.
The operation had dedicated police staff focused on preventing and disrupting the planned dirt bike ride across Auckland.
Acting Counties Manukau Police District Commander, Inspector Matt Srhoj, says police became aware of a number of bikes gathering in Papatoetoe at about 11.30am on Sunday.
“There were approximately 40 to 50 bikes at the Manukau Memorial Gardens, some doing burnouts and driving dangerously,” he says.
“A short time later, the bikes left the gardens on Puhinui Road and travelled towards State Highway 20 heading north.
“Also in the convoy were several support vehicles that had people filming the bike run.”
Srhoj says Police units had just caught up to the bikes when two of the riders crashed, coming off their bikes.
He says neither rider was wearing any safety equipment. Both were transported to hospital with moderate injuries.
Driving charges are being currently being considered and their bikes impounded, he says.
“For their sake they are quite lucky to have not suffered serious injuries, or injured any other road users going about their business.”
Srhoj says a team of operational staff from across Auckland, with assistance from the police helicopter Eagle, monitored the ride, which continued onto the North-Western motorway heading east.
The bikes then turned onto Southern Motorway heading south to Ōtara.
Police units and the Eagle helicopter monitored the bike ride through Auckland to Ngāti Ōtara Park, where one rider, a Killer Bees member, was arrested for sustained loss of traction and drug offences. His motorbike was impounded.
Police cordons were set up around the park, which resulted in another bike rider being arrested and summonsed for failing to stop for police. His bike was also seized.
A vehicle located exiting the park was also seized by police in connection with a recent King Cobra bike run seen driving in a dangerous manner.
“The aim of this operation was to prevent smaller groups of riders growing into larger gatherings,” Srhoj says.
“We will continue to actively target those involved in anti-social and criminal activity.
“We understand the community is fed up with these motorbike riders’ behaviour and we don’t want to see anyone seriously injured or killed.
“Police will be reviewing CCTV footage, which will likely result in further arrests and charges.”
Police ask anyone who observes dangerous or nuisance driving as it is occurring to phone 111.
Alternatively, people with information which may assist police can phone 105 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
