Attribute to Area Manager, Youth and Community Services for Wairarapa District – Sgt Ian Osland
Police are warning people who park in their own driveways and on berms near their homes to secure any valuables in their vehicles after an increase in thefts targeting vehicles parked in driveways and in front of houses. This has been happening across the Wairarapa region predominantly overnight, but also occasionally during the day.
There have been a high number of reported cases of vehicles being broken into, and leading up to Christmas we find that this often increases.
Lately, it’s not only valuables that are being left in unlocked vehicles, but keys for the vehicles are also being left inside, resulting in some of the vehicles being stolen.
"Security around homes, garages and even driveways is essential. Our advice to anyone with valuables in vehicles is to make sure they are not left unattended or un-locked; at a minimum, make sure keys are removed and vehicles locked if you do have to leave things in your car.
"The recording of serial numbers and photographs of property would also assist police in conducting enquires and the recovery of the stolen property,” he says.
“Police are actively patrolling and working with our community partners around these areas, we urge members of the public to report suspicious activity to police promptly," says Sgt Osland
"If people see any criminal or suspicious activity, call 111 straight away.
The sooner we know about it, the better chance we have of catching the offenders and preventing further crimes."
Anyone with information related to car thefts or car break-ins in the Wellington Region can contact Police on (04) 381 2000.
Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre