Quick catch means Court for two

Two Lower Hutt males are appearing in Wellington District Court today after being caught allegedly stealing a vehicle.

The pair were arrested late last night after a member of the public reported seeing them taking a car in a Northland, Wellington, street.

The caller provided the Police call taker with detailed information while patrol units headed to the area. The vehicle had been driven a short distance, but once it was stopped by Police the two males ran from the car on foot. Officers were able to locate and apprehend them quickly with the assistance of two Police dog handlers.

Wellington Police have praise for the member of the public who contacted 111 and the officers involved.

"The member of the public did everything right in calling 111 so quickly," says Emergency Response Manager, Inspector Simon Perry. "We were able to get immediate and critical information which allowed the patrol officers to co-ordinate a response with the two dog handlers.

"The quick catch prevented the possibility of these two males committing further offences using the vehicle."

One faces a charge of unlawfully taking a vehicle and the other unlawfully getting into a vehicle. Both are 20 year old unemployed males.