A man was arrested after officers chanced upon a "large-scale" five-room cannabis growing operation in Auckland while responding to a burglary call this morning.
Police were called to a property on Bassett Road in Remuera just after 3.50am following a report of "glass breaking".
On arrival, officers found the front door was open and noticed a "suspicious smell".
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Burrow said a "large-scale cannabis grow operation" was allegedly found, with one person inside.
"The presence of officers spooked the occupant, who fled out a back window of the house," he said.
The man allegedly bolted through the nearby Newmarket Park, tracked by the eagle helicopter.
He was caught by a police dog unit and arrested.
Burrow said five rooms at the property were being used to grow cannabis, with cultivation equipment also found.
A 41-year-old man was charged with cultivating cannabis and will appear in Auckland District Court today.
“The community is vital in locating these operations, and we ask anyone who sees unusual activity or identifies aromas of cannabis to please let us know,” Burrow said.
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