Police have arrested five people over damage that cost around $1 million in damages to the businesses who manage the Kinleith Forests.
The offenders would face charges that included “intentional damage, unlawful possession of firearms, and theft”, as well as illegal hunting.
Tokoroa police sergeant Neale Saunders said police have arrested five people between the ages of 30 and 34 since November last year and all were due to appear in Tokoroa District Court over the next few months.
The alleged incidents included damage to the “companies and contractors’ equipment and lost productivity”, said Saunders.
Several gates were cut open across the forests to allow the offenders to access the sites. These gates have now been repaired.
“As soon as you enter the forests without permission, you are committing several offences, some punishable by up to 10-years-imprisonment,” said Saunders.
Police enquiries remained ongoing, anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour around these forests could report information to 105 either online or over the phone.
