Police Probe Triple Threat in Invercargill: Assault, Ram Raid, and Car Fire Spark Concern

In a series of unsettling events, Invercargill and was the scene of multiple incidents over the weekend, including an assault, another ram raid, and a suspicious car fire, which are currently under investigation by the local police.
Related: Simmonds – Violent Crime In South Increases Under Labour

The first incident occurred in the early Saturday afternoon, when police were called to Tay St, situated between Inglewood Rd and Isla St, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived at around 1.20pm to find a person with moderate injuries. The victim was immediately transported to the hospital for treatment. The assailant or assailants, however, were not found at the scene. The police are actively making inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the assault.

A few hours later firefighters were called to extinguish a car fire on Rimu Rd, near Woodlands South Rd, in the rural area of Mokotua. The call came just before 3pm, with the crews arriving to find a car fully engulfed in flames and no one in sight. The circumstances of the fire were deemed suspicious, prompting the Fire and Emergency Southern shift manager, Blair Walklin, to notify the police. The police are currently making enquiries into the circumstances of the blaze.

In the early hours of the Sunday morning, another ram raid burglary was reported at Vape store located on Pomona Street, Strathern. Around 4.35am, the police were alerted to a break-in at the premises. The burglars reportedly used a vehicle to gain entry to the store before making their escape in the same vehicle. The number of offenders involved remains unknown. Investigations are currently ongoing to determine the stolen items and identify the culprits involved in the break-in.