Public can help beat crime wave
A spate of brazen daytime burglaries has Kerikeri police urging people to report suspicious behaviour immediately.
Police are not saying whether they believe one group is behind the wave of burglaries, but almost all involve doors being smashed down or windows forced while the occupants are at work or on holiday. TVs, laptops and jewellery appear to be the targets.
Among the properties hit in the past week were homes in Inlet Rd, Peacock Gardens, Ironbark Rd, Doves Bay Rd and Ranui Ave. Burglaries were also reported in Kaeo and Russell.
Sergeant Phil Le Comte, of Kerikeri police, said a black Isuzu Bighorn stationwagon was seen at an Inlet Rd home about 4pm last Tuesday.
The burglars had cut a padlock and smashed a glass panel in a rear door before getting in by forcing a front window and taking a silver Nissan Wingroad sedan, registration BHB3345.
On the same day a home in Peacock Gardens had its front door kicked in. Three laptops, a 42-inch TV, a desktop computer, Playstation, camera, iPod, alcohol and jewellery were taken. Two stocky Maori men were seen at an address and a black stationwagon was seen leaving.
A resident of Ironbark Rd in rural Waipapa arrived home at 2.30pm on Wednesday to find someone had tried to jemmy several doors and windows and taken a laptop, jewellery, camera, alcohol and hair straighteners.
A holiday home at Doves Bay was also targeted and two burglaries in Ranui Ave were reported on Thursday afternoon.
In Russell on Saturday night six units at a waterfront apartment complex were broken into and six televisions stolen. A cottage at Pompallier House was also entered but nothing had been taken.
Mr Le Comte said investigations were continuing. "We can't discount the fact they they're related. They're almost all daytime with similar means of entry."
He urged people to call 111 immediately if they thought a burglary was in progress.
For non-urgent matters or to report sightings of the missing Nissan they could call the station during work hours on (09) 407-9211.
Mr Le Comte said police always welcomed calls about suspicious behaviour.
"People certainly aren't bothering us by phoning with information about activity that's out of the norm in the area where they live," he said.
He did not expect people to confront burglars, but to record car registrations and descriptions of vehicles and clothing.
"And be aware we've got some daytime burglars out there," he said.
