Nearly all of the scorched almond boxes, worth up to $12,000, stolen from a South Auckland food bank have been found.
The almonds were donated to the South Auckland Christian Food Bank, intended to be put in food parcels as a special treat, including for Mother's Day.
But chocolate treats were stolen from a property in Papatoetoe on Wednesday night, along with a trailer.
On Friday morning, the food bank's chief executive Ian Foster said the organisation was desperate to at least get the trailer back.
"We would really like the trailer, we use the trailer every day, really disappointed for the families, for the mums who are missing out and for the families who aren't going to get them in their food parcels."
It appears his wish has been answered as after a tip-off, police were granted a warrant to search a Manurewa address, where many of the boxes were found.
The trailer was also recovered, as well as another stolen vehicle.
A man, with a warrant to arrest for an unrelated matter, was taken into custody and will appear in the Manukau District Court on Saturday.
The Nestle delights are going to be returned to Foster on Friday night.
"It’s great we were able to help this charity get the goods back so they can continue to help people and communities in need," Sgt Dave Grant said.
"It’s a great result and very rewarding to be able to get back the goods and give them back to the food bank."
A video of cops with the scorched almonds was posted on the Counties Manukau Police Facebook page.
Newshub.
