A switched off security alarm was a critical factor in the burglary of the Dargaville Police station, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rob Pope said today.
Mr Pope said the weekend burglary of the Dargaville Police Station doesn't point towards major problems with Police station security elsewhere.
The Deputy Commissioner said that with a formal investigation and charges underway he could not go into all the facts surrounding the break in but briefings to date had reduced concerns about the integrity of the systems in place to protect stations throughout the country.
"This incident shouldn't be used as a lever to step up round the clock staffing of stations in smaller areas.
"While Police everywhere obviously need a base to work from it would be completely counter-productive to have crime fighting staff assigned to sitting around in those bases 24 x 7 rather than having them out and about for as long as possible in the community on patrol and attending incidents.
"Safety and security is, nevertheless, a high priority. Thankfully, on this occasion a quick arrest has been made in relation to the burglary and the firearms stolen have been recovered so the public are not in continuing danger as a consequence of this audacious but stupid act.
"The alleged offender was quickly apprehended following information from the community who demonstrated a complete disdain for this type of behaviour.
Mr Pope said that as was the case with all property he could not guarantee that such incidents would not happen again.
"Police stations are from time to time the target of crimes but the security measures taken needed to be kept in proportion to the degree of risk, which is generally quite low," said Mr Pope.