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The Weekend Sun
Alleged sexual assault investigated Tauranga Police are investigating a possible sexual assault on a 37-year-old woman. Detective Dianne Lewis says the incident happened
in the vicinity of No 1 The Strand and Cliff Road between 1.30am and 3.30am on Saturday, September 8. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation can contact Dianne on 5774300. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.
Missing woman believed dead
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Police are now treating the disappearance of Rae Portman, who was sighted in the Bay of Plenty before her disappearance, as a homicide investigation.Detective Inspector Mark Gutry of the Counties Manukau Police says the investigation into the disappearance of the 33-year-old woman is now a homicide. “The elevation to a homicide is based on information received from the public through the 0800 RaePortman and the Crimestoppers phone numbers. Rae Portman was last seen on Wednesday, June 20.
Police hunt armed robbers
Tauranga Police are continuing to hunt for the armed offenders who robbed the Welcome Bay Foodmarket on August 23. Two men armed with pistols entered the foodmarket on Welcome Bay Road at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 23, and took an undisclosed amount of money from the till before making off on foot. Police say the offenders are described as males, aged in their late teens or 20’s, wearing hoodies and 3/4 length shorts, with bandana’s covering their faces. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 5774300. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. To read these stories in full check out SunLive.co.nz
The huntaway-cross weighed only 14.8kg when it was seized on May 25.
Man convicted for neglecting dog Western Bay of Plenty dog owners are being reminded to make sure their animals’ needs are taken care of. The call comes after a Te Puke man was fined $750 after his huntaway-cross was chained and starved on a rural property during a two year period. Port of Tauranga worker Phillip Kahotea, 26, pleaded guilty to neglecting his family pet and admitted he only let the dog off the chain a couple of times and feed it sporadically. The dog was seized by SPCA staff when inspector Jason Blair visited the rural property in Te Puke for the third time and
found the dog in an emaciated condition. Jason had visited the property on two other occasions, once on April 10 and again on May 23, after receiving complaints from the public about the dog’s condition. On these occasions, the dog was treated for worms and feed and Jason left a note for Kahotea to contact the SPCA. The offender failed to make contact with the SPCA and the dog was seized on May 25 when Jason returned to the property. Kahotea was also sentenced to 75 hours community work and has to pay $132.89 in court costs and $153.26 to cover the costs of vet treatments.
Facebook pages set up Indecent assault to warn drink drivers suspect list narrows Facebook pages set up to warn drink drivers of check points in the Bay of Plenty are concerning police, with one page already shut down.
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BOP police stop location was set up a couple of weeks ago and had more than 1000 followers before it had the plug pulled on it. There is still one page running, “Rotorua Police Stop Locations”, which had close to 300 people following it last week since it was set up on September 9. Police say the pages are no different to motorists warning other drivers by flashing their lights but say it is disappointing to see people using Facebook to warn drink drivers. National spokesperson Noreen Hegarty says people use all manner of means to communicate with each other and police do not have a desire to control the public’s Facebook content. She says it’s a shame people find it necessary to warn others about police checking for drink drivers rather than warning about the irresponsibility and dangers of drinking and driving.
Mount Maunganui Police investigating a ‘disturbing’ indecent assault on a seven-year-old girl are looking at a list of suspects and reviewing a similar crime which happened in the same area 18 months ago. Detective sergeant Darryl Brazier says they have a list of 25 people they are looking at after receiving information from members of the public and other police staff. He says they have eliminated some of the names on the list and are continuing to investigate the incident. Police say a man entered the girl’s bedroom where she was sleeping with her younger sister and indecently assaulted her overnight on September 4-5. The man is described as a big person, in his 30s and Maori. He had hair spiked up in the middle and short everywhere else, with earrings in his left ear. The man is described as wearing a blue jacket with white stripes and knee high shorts with a Maori design down both sides. He also had black running shoes. Police say the girl is bearing up well given what has happened to her. Darryl says as part of the investigation they are looking into a case which happened in the same area less than two years ago. “We are looking at a case which happened 18 months ago involving a home invasion and an indecent assault on a teenage girl.” He says they are looking at this because the crime happened less than 200m away from the Oceanview Road incident. “It happened in March 2011 and had a similar method of operation. “We believe someone out there knows who this person is.” Police believe the offender may be in the same area or live in the wider Western Bay of Plenty. “Someone must have missed him in the middle of the night or noticed him acting differently when he came home. “We would like to hear from anyone who has information that can help us solve this crime.” Anyone with information is asked to call Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By Letitia Atkinson