Arrests follow package pinching reports

The mystery of a string of missing packages on Auckland’s North Shore may have been solved – two people have been arrested in relation to the disappearances.

The arrests came after multiple packages went missing from the Chatswood and Birkdale areas, a police spokesman confirmed.

“The same alleged offenders came to our attention for similar offending in Whangaparaoa and in West Auckland.”

The spokeswoman said the offenders were facing more than 22 charges of unlawfully opening a postal article and would appear in the North Shore District Court on March 27.

As the matter was before the courts, they couldn't comment on whether the packages had been recovered.

Beach Haven residents had been puzzled as to where their packages were going.

Reports of missing deliveries were circulating on Rangatira Rd and neighbouring streets.

Ashleah Copeland, a Fordham St resident, said she had three packages go missing in the last two months.

“It was clothing from TradeMe, an iPad, and stationery we’d ordered from the Warehouse.”

Mrs Copeland said she was particularly upset about the most recent package disappearance – an iPad – as it was for her autistic son.

“I’m not a person that tends to get mad, but I’m very hurt. We’d saved for that iPad because YouTube videos really calm him. That was something he needed.”

The Beach Haven resident said a courier company confirmed the package containing the iPad had been delivered to her house.

However, Mrs Copeland said she never signed for it.

“It’s a bit frustrating when you're paying for tracked post – that can be an extra $10.”

Mrs Copeland said her landlord and mother-in-law a few houses down also had packages go missing.

“I’m just really hurt that someone felt okay doing it.”

Rangatira Rd resident Alex Larsen said a package of makeup items she left in her letterbox for a friend to pick up a few weeks ago had disappeared.

Miss Larsen said she felt particularly bad for her friend as she'd “taken time out of her day to come pick up the items I'd left for her”, only to find they weren’t there.

“When I realised what had happened I was just pretty annoyed.”

Police advised a lock on letterboxes could prevent packages from being stolen.