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Two nabbed and held in custody over watermelon thefts: Police

Tuesday 7 December 2021 | Written by Sian Solomon | Published in Crime, National

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Two nabbed and held in  custody over watermelon  thefts: Police
Four people were locked up over the weekend. POLICE/ 21120624

Two men are in custody facing theft charges following an incident involving watermelons in Rarotonga on Sunday.

Police spokesman Trevor Pitt said two men were arrested, charged and taken into custody on Sunday in connection with the theft of watermelons.

Police were called shortly after 11am as three people were spotted by a witness near a watermelon patch in Arorangi.  

A woman was also questioned and released.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man was involved in a crash near the Rarotonga International Airport on Sunday, resulting in damage to three vehicles.

Pitt said a blood specimen has been sought from the motorist after his vehicle ran off the road about 3.30pm.

The vehicle had been driven off the road into rental business where two rental cars were also damaged in the crash. 

Pitt said police were told the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.

In other incidents, one person was arrested and charged with wilful damage following a reported incident of drunkenness, and one for breach of curfew over the weekend. 

Two cyclists took spills on Sunday, both sustaining injuries.

One at the Avatiu roundabout about 8am suffered a cut to the forehead while another in Takuvaine dislocated a shoulder about 10am.

A 16-year-old student, out on a motorcycle, and riding without a driver licence also took a spill, Pitt said,   

And a break-in was reported at Tikioki on Sunday morning.

Money was reported stolen from a rental staycation property.

Pitt said police are advising residents to take extra care with their valuables in this area as a number of burglaries have been reported in Tikioki over recent weeks.