Palmerston North Police Station Burglar Steals From Another Police Station

Man who brutally stole guns, drugs and ammunition from Palmerston North Police Station has assaulted another station.

While Alan James Harris’ latest crime against the thin blue line wasn’t nearly as explosive, it shows he’s developed a penchant for brutally stealing police property.

Harris pleaded guilty in July to a range of charges in Levin District Court, including the burglary of Levin’s police station.

The police know Harris very well, as he was… the man behind the 2019 Anzac Day break-in at the Palmerston North Police Station.

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He was high on methamphetamine when he… jumped over the back fence of Church St stationwalked in through an open garage door, kicked in a door and took 26 different types of rifles, ammunition and cannabis from the display area.

The bulk of the force is said to have been at the dawn parade using a shopping cart to transport his loot, which he hid in a neighboring property while packing his car.

He was noticed by Sergeant Stephen Guy, who asked Harris what he was up to.

Harris replied, “Nothing, what are you up to?”

He didn’t react when Guy drew his gun and ordered him to stop, instead driving away.

He distributed the weapons and ammunition to employees, but the police managed to find them.

He told police he was high and anxious and needed money to get his children to New Zealand.

He was deported from Australia to New Zealand in 2016 as a 501 deporteedespite having lived across the ditch for most of his life, having served jail time for aggravated assault and aggravated theft.

The investigation into the break-in was characterized by the fact that police shared little information publicly, despite the obvious danger of someone stealing multiple firearms from under their noses.

Internal documents from stuff under the official information law show: police hoped to catch Harris, who they identified as the culprit by Anzac Day afternoon, before anyone found out.

Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed any details about the break-in until a press release was sent at 2:50 p.m. on April 26, 31 hours after the weapons were captured.

Inspector Sarah Stewart, commander of the Manawatū area, said it was “the first opportunity we have had as part of the investigation to inform the public”.

But the police spent much of that time drafting press releases—the ones Stewart intended to send contained no reference to weapons being confiscated—and sorting out “reactive key points” to answer predicted questions about the break-in that took place while the weapons buyback program was taking place.

Harris’ latest assault on the crime was arguably lesser, with the break-in at Levin’s police station not nearly as complicated.

According to court documents released to: stuff in July, on May 12, he jumped the back fence of the station — Levin’s courthouse overlooks the area — and stole a $780 mountain bike, as well as a bicycle helmet.

He also stole items from three stores in Levin, told police he had to pay for drugs and food, and failed to return two chainsaws he had rented from the Horowhenua Hire Center.

He was also arrested for possession of a shotgun in April.

He was awakened at 2 a.m. at a Foxton address after an employee argued with his partner.

Harris grabbed the gun, put it in a vehicle and drove off the street after hearing that the police had been called over reports of a firearm being offered to someone.

Police managed to find the pistol, as well as 62 shotgun grenades and five .308 rounds.

Harris told police he got the gun from the dark web because gang members were after him.

He is incarcerated until the verdict in August.