Counties Manukau Central Police have this week arrested a 17 year old local man for the burglary of a residential address in Blanes Road, Clendon, which occurred on 24 February 2014.
The address had previously been the subject of an unrelated spate of three burglaries in 2012, as reported in the NZ Herald on 28 February 2014.
Following the burglaries in 2012 the owners of the property, in conjunction with assistance and advice from Victim Support and Police, took significant security prevention measures to target harden their property.
The installation of good quality CCTV cameras as part of these security prevention measures provided footage of two males committing the February burglary that enabled members of the Manurewa Tactical Crime Unit to identify and arrest one of the offenders.
Detective Sergeant Gareth Brown of the Manurewa Tactical Crime unit says the arrest provides reassurance to the victims and to the wider community.
"While the security prevention measures they implemented on this occasion did not prevent the burglary, they directly assisted the Police investigation to apprehend the offender. Unfortunately the brazen offenders appeared to have no regard for other people's property and were highly motivated to commit crime.
"The security prevention measures taken by the victims have directly assisted the investigation and led to an early arrest. While our aim is always to prevent incidences of crime, where this is not possible due to the motivation of the offender, our aim is to make an early intervention that will prevent further offending and victims. The security measures taken by the complainants have directly supported us to do this," says Detective Sergeant Brown.
The 17 year old arrested appeared in the Manukau District on 12 March 2014 charged with burglary.
Enquiries are continuing in relation to the second offender.
ENDS
Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
021 192 0717