Man Arrested For Tagging RAAF C17 GLobemaster In 2008

Waitakere Police have arrested a 35 year old male for the alleged tagging of a Royal Australian Air Force C17 Globemaster aircraft in September 2008.  The arrest was made this morning Wednesday 4 April 2012.

Police say that a DNA sample left at the scene of the tagging incident has proved influential in determining the outcome of this investigation. The alleged offender spat on a wheel cover of the aircraft while carrying out the tagging. DNA was extracted from this saliva. The aircraft had to be removed from active service for extensive repairs.

Detective Sergeant Steve Salton of the Waitakere CIB has been investigating this incident. He says DNA samples from the tagging and a subsequent burglary in November 2008 have remained on a Databank. Recently a breakthrough in the investigation emerged when ESR made a successful comparison with the DNA collected when the male was arrested for a domestic related incident on Christmas Day 2011.

The man will appear in the Waitakere District Court tomorrow Thursday 5 April 2012. As a result of these police investigations into the incident at RNZAF Base AUCKLAND in 2008, the male is now charged with burglary [1] and intentional damage. [1] - These two indictable offences carry a penalty of 10 years and seven years respectively.  The man has been similarly charged for an alleged burglary in West Harbour in November 2008.

The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshall Peter Stockwell, has recorded his appreciation of the efforts of police in achieving this arrest today.

“We are pleased that the person responsible for causing some serious damage to one of the Australian Air Force’s main transport aircraft has finally been caught,” he said: