After two weeks of Operation Dentist Christchurch burglaries are showing a 50% drop.
"Usually we'd be seeing about 34 burglaries a week in Northern Christchurch's patch but we're down to 13 this week to date," says Senior Sergeant Roy Appley.
In the last 24 hours there have been only 2 reported burglaries in Northern area, 2 in Southern and 3 in Central Christchurch.
Staff are attributing the decrease to excellent public reporting when they see suspicious people and activity and proactive, intelligence led policing.
"We'd encourage people to dial 111 when they see anything suspicious," says Senior Sergeant Appley. "We have a high number of uniform and plain clothes staff on patrol and are responding quickly to incidents."
The Op Dentist team is also being highly proactive in targeting known offenders and key areas.
The Booze bus is being used in key areas as a crime tactic with the joint approach of targeting traffic and crime. This is a joint approach with all policing groups working closely together.
"We also have Community Patrols (volunteers) working target areas identified by Police Intelligence," says Roy Appley. "They are a valuable part of the team."
Over the last month 30% of Northern burglaries have been from unlocked garages and sheds - which house many valuable tools, cycles etc.
"Perhaps this is an indication that people are securing their houses better - burglars are having to turn to the unlocked shed," Senior Sergeant Appley says. "With spring approaching, watch out for your lawn mower as there will be a new market 'growing'."
The public are warned to secure their properties carefully when they are absent and at home. Have good records of serial numbers, and valuations and photos of precious items such as jewellery so that items can be returned if located and offenders can be charged with theft.