One person has been arrested and two more spoken to in relation to stealing a vehicle from outside a Totara Terrace residence and going on a “joyride” this week, Wānaka Police area response manager Graeme Hamblett reported. 

“Early morning Sunday (February 22) the three opportunists located a vehicle parked on the roadside with the keys in the ignition,” Graeme said. 

“Subsequently the trio have taken the vehicle on a two-hour joy ride around Wānaka and Hāwea.

“During their jaunt, the group have taken turns driving deliberately running into road signs, a letterbox, rubbish bins and a tree. The vehicle was recovered by police the same day.” 

Police are seeking any information from residents who have found any unexplained damage which they believe may have resulted from a vehicle collision Sunday morning between 1am - 3am. Contact 105 quoting file number 260222/4322. 

“Police are urging locals and visitors to the area to lock their vehicles when left unattended,” Graeme said.

Three people are due to appear in Queenstown Court this week over recent offenses in Wānaka.

The first is a 41-year-old Wānaka resident who was charged with drink driving and careless use of a motor vehicle after an incident on Aubrey Road on January 25 where he failed to negotiate a corner, crashing into a power pole.

“Alcohol was suspected as a contributing factor, leading to a blood sample being obtained from the driver,” Graeme said. 

“The sample returned a result [of] over 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, nearly three times over the legal limit.”

The second incident was also drink-driving related: An 18-year-old from Dunedin was stopped on the Lake Hawea-Albert Town Road on January 2 following a driving complaint.

“The young driver underwent breath test procedures returning a result of 900 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath,” Graeme said. 

“The alcohol limit for anyone driving, under 20 years of age, is zero.”

The third was a 24-year-old woman who was caught trying to steal more than $70 worth of groceries from Wānaka New World. 

A 32-year-old local resident was airlifted to Christchurch Central Hospital this week after suffering serious injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident on Crown Range Road. 

“At about 8.30am Tuesday 25 February, while traveling south out of the Cardona Township, the male has left the road after completing an overtaking manoeuvre,” Graeme said.

Police are seeking any information, including dashcam footage relating to the incident – contact 105 quoting file number 260224/2596.  

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.

Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Supplied