Johnny on the Spot

I just have to mention this. It's become quite a source of amusement.

I have a radio scanner. It picks up marine radio, aircraft communications, and Police. Some people think I'm nuts listening to the day to day goings on of the Tauranga Constabulary but I have been listening for years. It started with a multiband radio I messed about with to receive transmissions broadcast below the lower FM radio frequencies back in my teens. It worked but the reception was pretty rubbish. I use a Uniden Bearcat now which has digital tuning and is crystal clear.

There have been a few occasions when I have been right where the action was happening. In some cases before Police. What do you do, what do you do??

Earlier this year I was heading home, listening to a pursuit of sorts that started on the beach near Girven Road. A kid on a quad bike giving the Police the slip through the dunes and onto Arataki Streets. Comms had set up cordons on the side roads off Girven Road, and there were brief sightings of this kid and members of the public were assisting but they hadn't caught him.

I approached Baypark Stadium from the State Highway and went around the roundabout heading south to Te Puke on my way to Papamoa. 200 metres past the roundabout a kid shot out in front of me on a quad bike!!! I very nearly had him plastered across my bonnet!

I slowed down and saw him disappear into a yard full of relocatable houses off the highway and carried on towards home, looking in my rear view mirror for the pursuing Police. Well, no Police came into view and I then spotted the kid hooning along the side of the main road, about 300 metres ahead of me, in the direction I was headed.

Now I had a dilemma. Do I get involved, or hang back and see where he goes in case Police head this way. I rang *555. I told the call taker that I am on SH2 headed south and can see a quad bike that I "think" Police in Tauranga were after. I was asked my details and told to keep following.

The kid turned into Mangatawa Lane, which leads to a Maori land community. I followed.

He then turned right onto a semi-private road leading to some farmland and orchards / maize fields. I followed.

The road got rough and the Mazda 6 was turning into a rally vehicle. I asked comms if any Police were on their way as I was a bit concerned about the area. I had visions of this kid going into one of the pretty run down farmhouses in the area and coming out with an Uncle with a shotgun. I didn't know where the road led to but there were maize fields off to either side and he could have easily disappeared into one of those.

Comms asked me to carry on so I did and reached the end of the track that led to an orchard. I stopped and reversed my car into a clearing on the side of the road, imagining a Police vehicle coming around the corner going like the clappers and running into me.

A constable arrived and had a quick chat with me. I said I couldn't be 100% sure that he actually went into that orchard and then started wondering if this was indeed the kid they were after (or did I just spook some innocent teen on a quad??!).

Just then the kid sped past not 50 metres from our position. The cop floored it into the orchard. A second vehicle arrived and I slowly headed back along the narrow track, coming across a few more Police vehicles headed to the orchard.

I made it back to near the main road and headed home. Scanner turned back on and after a cat and mouse game for an hour or so I heard they got the kid. I've no idea what he did or what he was done for but it was a thrilling way to spend 30 minutes!

That was one of several events, I'll post some more over the coming weeks, including me chasing after kids down Devonport Road to get my kids' bikes back...