A woman has been arrested after she allegedly stole a camper in Whakatāne earlier this week, driving off with a man and his cat still asleep inside.
Police say the incident began about 8.50pm on Wednesday near Seaview Rd in Whakatāne, when a person got into the parked camper and drove off, unaware its owner was asleep in the rear.
The man woke to movement and confronted the intruder, telling them to get out. Instead, the alleged offender kept driving, taking off towards Ōhope with both the man and his cat still inside. He immediately called police, who responded quickly as the situation unfolded.
Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Phil Gillbanks said it was a dangerous situation and that a considered plan was implemented.
"Our main concern was the welfare of the person in the back, and in cases like this, planning is everything. His wellbeing would have been front and centre of our officers’ minds as they looked at how to safely stop the vehicle."
Gillbanks said there was "great teamwork" between the victim and police staff.
"Everyone was working together to bring this to a safe conclusion.
"He didn’t have a seatbelt, so the call taker worked with him to find the most stable place to keep him safe. In this case, that meant he sat on the bed and held onto the sink."
The camper came to a stop on Wainui Rd just before the State Highway 2 roundabout, believed to be due to a mechanical issue. The driver was arrested at about 9.10pm, while the man and his cat were unharmed.
Gillbanks urged people to make sure their vehicles were fully secure, "regardless of whether you're staying in it or not".
"I want to acknowledge the victim for keeping a cool head through all of this – waking up to find your camper moving would be unsettling to say the least."
A 28-year-old Whakatāne woman has been charged with failing to stop and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. She appeared in Whakatāne District Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody to reappear on June 10.
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