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Dealing with burglary
Burglary is a problem in Christchurch - there are about 120 burglaries every week.
There are often three main reasons;
- Security is often lax,
- There are often good quality electronics items there,
- Unfortunately burglars will come back again if they perceive your house as an easy target.
What can people do about securing their property?
- An alarm system is the best security. This can be expensive but it is best. Install an alarm system and use it. (You can ask your community police officer for advice on what to get).
- Common sense; leave doors and windows and garages shut and secure when you go out.
- Keep items of value out of sight of someone looking in the windows.
- Don't replace items before you've reviewed your security. Burglars will come back.
- Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye out for each other.
What security measures can you take when you are going out or away on holiday?
- Lock your windows, use dead locks on your doors.
- Use your security system.
- Don't leave car keys or spare house keys in obvious places.
- Leave a light on or have a timer on a light.
- Leave the radio on low.
- Get a friend to call by, collect the mail, leave washing on the line, or a car in the drive.
You can replace your belongings under insurance but police are not able to charge someone if they cannot prove where an item came from.
What are some sensible ideas for looking after your property?
- Write down the serial numbers for all your electronic items. Don't keep these electronically as your computer may be stolen.
- Photograph items of value, especially jewellery.
- Use your video camera to record what is in your house.
- Have current valuations for your treasures.
- Keep valuations and photos safe and separate from the items.
Don't keep cash on hand.
- Very simple, don't keep a lot of cash in the house.
- NZ has a very sophisticated banking system, use bank cards and internet banking.
- Don't let your children have a lot of cash.
How should you report a burglary?
- If the burglar is still there dial 111. Take a careful description of any person or vehicle there, but your safety must come first.
- If the burglar is not there phone police however they may take some time to attend. Please don't tidy up too much before police arrive, however do make your house secure again.
- Write a list of what has been stolen along with the serial numbers, photos, original purchasing receipts if you still have them and the pamphlet or handbook which will may have a photo. Police will take a photocopy of these for the file.
If you do not speak English well, take a friend. If the need arises, we can get a translator to help you.
Sometimes you are offered goods for sale at a very cheap price, less than what they are worth, what should you do about this?
- Don't buy these items. A lot of computers, especially laptop computers, are being stolen these days. Remember they may have been stolen from someone like you, one of your friends. Don't buy them.
If you buy things which could have been stolen, can you be charged?
The law changed on 1 October 2003. Be very cautious. Even if you buy something through a paper, such as Buy, Sell and Exchange, it may turn out to have been stolen. You could be liable, charged with receiving, and arrested.
Consider joining a Neighbourhood Support group. For more information check their web site: www.ns.org.nz
