Five people linked by police to the Head Hunters gang – including a teenager – have been arrested after a café on Auckland’s North Shore was allegedly gutted in a firebombing last month.
Around 11.20pm on November 1, emergency services were alerted to a fire at the Sunflour Café following reports of flames coming from the two-storey building.
The group of five, aged between 15 and 42, were arrested after police carried out searches across West Auckland and the North Shore as part of Operation Governor, an investigation into offending at Ōrewa businesses between September and early November.
It included another attempted arson and “other damage inflicted on businesses”, Inspector John Thornley said.
Four people were due to appear in the North Shore District Court tomorrow on a range of charges, including arson, burglary, intentional damage and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
The 15-year-old was referred to Youth Aid.
Police were continuing to seek one other person believed to be involved.
“Our CIB staff have been working hard to identify those responsible for this spree of offending,” Thornley said.
“Those enquiries have led us to believe that these events are linked, and we have laid charges as a result.
“It’s always concerning in such a tight knit community when a series of confronting events like this happen in such a short space of time,” Thornley said.
“Police will continue to prosecute those who seem to think this sort of behaviour is acceptable.
“We acknowledge those who have assisted our enquiries in recent weeks.”
