6 Jun 2011

7th arrest after jewellery robberies

5:07 am on 6 June 2011

Police have caught the final man they have been searching for in relation to two Auckland jewellery robberies worth $700,000.

A Sydney-based jeweller was robbed of more than $100,000 worth of gems in Parnell last month.

Some $600,000 worth of jewellery was stolen later in May from two other international salespeople outside Auckland's Rydges Hotel.

Police say on Saturday night they found and arrested a seventh man, Juan Leal-Casillas, in the Waikato town of Morrinsville, as a direct result of help from the public.

He has been charged with aggravated robbery and with participating in an organised crime group.

He will appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday.

Six other foreigners, three women and three men, who had been travelling on American and Mexican passports, were arrested earlier this week and are facing similar charges.