Search area changed for armed man

Press, 9 January 1981, Page 4

Search area changed for armed man

PA New Plymouth An armed man wanted by the police is now believed to be in the Tokaanu area, south of Taupo. The police and the Rotorua armed offenders squad have switched their search from Kuratau, 15km southwest of Turangi, to concentrate on the Tokaanu area, after the burglary of a Tokaanu holiday home yesterday afternoon. The search for the man, who is believed to have a rifle, started on Wednesday. Police from Turangi, Ro-

I'tbrua, Tokoroa, Taupo, and ITaumarunui manned six| [roadblocks throughout] i [Wednesday night on roads ,i leading out of the Turangi [district. . | The commander of the Roil torua armed offenders squad, iilnspector L. R. Woodgate, said the road blocks were called off at 1 p.m. yester- , day. At 4.30 p.m. yesterday, the police were told of a burglar}' at a Tokaanu house. , Food had been eaten and' overalls and boots left! . behind by the intruder! Overalls had been stolen;

from a Turangi home on Wednesday night.

“There was evidence the man left in a hurry after being disturbed by people entering the house because the television and the radio had been left on,” said Mr Woodgate last evening. Roadblocks were set up again at 7 p.m. yesterday on all roads out of the area. The man, who it was alleged on Wednesday had threatened a policeman with a rifle, is described as a Maori, 165 cm tall, of medium to solid built, with a moustache and long hair.