Pair filmed taking donation box arrested

Police have arrested the two people who featured in security camera footage of the theft of a charity donation box.

Media ran the footage and it was also posted on the Hawke's Bay Police Facebook page, prompting a wave of information about the pair - along with hundreds of people expressing their disgust at the crime online, police said.

Police this morning acted on information provided by a member of the public and arrested the pair, aged 20 and 28, in Hastings. They are due to appear in the Hastings District Court today on theft charges relating to the charity box, as well as other unrelated charges.

Mr Sloan said police were heartened by the amount of information provided by the public. The Facebook posting was shared by 771 people and 439 people made comments, which included information about who they might be. Information was also provided to Crimestoppers.

"This is a fantastic result and would not have happened without the public's help,'' he said. ``It was also pleasing to see the amount of outrage and disgust towards these people - it's obvious the community will not tolerate this type of behaviour and people are willing to help police prevent it happening.''