Two people have been charged following a four-year investigation into an alleged multi-million dollar home burglary in Auckland.
What began at an Auckland property in Westmere in late 2021, ended with a search warrant carried out at a rural property north of the city this week.
A safe containing $4 million in cryptocurrency, cash, jewellery, and other priceless family heirlooms was targeted during the sophisticated burglary on September 9, 2021.
An investigation picked up pace in 2024, with the Auckland City financial crime unit taking up new avenues of investigation.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton said the victim had hired a private investigator and in mid-2024 handed over a raft of information to police.
“From this point it has given the financial crime unit a good starting point about what had happened with the crypto currency, and a line of enquiry.
“Detective Oliver Moss chipped away at the case over many months, and this soon identified the person we will allege is responsible for the crime.”
On Wednesday, a team of detectives from the Auckland City FCU led by Detective Sergeant Ali Ramsay, with support from tactical police staff and the Auckland cyber crime unit carried out a search warrant at a Wellsford address.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the 2021 burglary, as well as four counts of money laundering $4m in cryptocurrency.
A 30-year-old woman has also been jointly charged over the money laundering offences.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including growing threats to our security, a monster hurricane brewing, and has the robot takeover begun? (Source: 1News)
Police have seized electronic items for further investigation.
Bolton said the investigation highlighted “new investigative possibilities with digital forensic evidence”.
“Detective Moss has worked tenaciously in putting the pieces together and identifying who police will allege is responsible for this crime.
“I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing commitment and investigative nous of private investigator Michael Campbell in what has been a complex investigation.”
The pair will make their first appearance in the Auckland District Court on August 26.
