Police arrest suspected armed robber

Tauranga Police have arrested a third person in relation to the armed robberies of the Mobil Service Station in Waihi and the Park Road Dairy in Katikati. Both incidents occurred within half an hour of each other on the morning of Monday, 18 June 2012.

The arrest came following the execution of search warrants in the Eastern Bay of Plenty Yesterday morning (Wednesday, 18, July).

Police had been seeking 19-year-old Rastaman Rapatini in relation to these matters but advise that he is no longer being sought.

A 19-year-old unemployed man from Te Aroha has been charged with two charges of assault with intent to rob as well as two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm.

He will make his initial appearance in the Tauranga District Court today (Thursday 19 July).

Also arrested during the search warrants was a 17-year-old unemployed man from Rotorua. He has been charged with unlawful possession of an imitation firearm.

He will be making his initial appearance in the Tauranga District Court on 24 July.

One of the search warrants was in the Matahi Valley and the other on the outskirts of Whakatane. As well as the arrests two shotguns were also recovered by Police.

Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said that the arrests came as a result of quality information which had been supplied to the Police.

Media enquiries should be referred to Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury or Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner