Some hard decisions aimed at addressing a rising residential burglary rate in the Waikato identified late last year have begun to pay dividends with a 56 per cent reduction recorded since January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said in November Police warned the public the City faced returning to the highs of 2007 in terms of the number of homes broken in to.
"From our perspective we looked at what we could do as an organisation and reallocated people and resources to effect change.
"This included the formation of a specialist Proactive Policing Team and a pilot Neighbourhood Policing Team to work alongside our existing Burglary Squad and Law Enforcement Team to proactively target recidivist dishonest and violent offenders."
Mr Lindsay said the activities of these squads had been highlighted recently with media coverage of the on-going Operation Persil and last year's Operation Surf.
"These proactive activities have resulted in about 200 arrests so far and will continue but we can't do it alone and there are a number of simple steps people can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim."
"Holiday weekends like the one starting tomorrow are all about families coming together but unfortunately not everyone takes the time off, offenders sometimes see the long weekend as a good opportunity for easy pluckings."
Mr Lindsay had some simple ideas for people intending going away this weekend;
• Ensure your home is secured, lock your doors, windows and garages.
• Try using electronic timers so your lights go on and off giving the appearance someone is home.
• If possible leave or have a friend park a car in your drive
• Install a home security system and place the stickers provided in visible locations to deter burglars.
• Tell your neighbours you're going away, ask them to check your mail, leave some washing on your line
• If you are home and you see something suspicious happening on your street- phone 111, don't assume Police already know what's going on
Mr Lindsay said the public would probably be dismayed if they knew Police often had to return items, believed to be stolen, to arrested offenders.
"Police have to be able to prove an item is stolen, one of the easiest ways we can do this is by being able to identify items by their serial numbers.
"Items are only attractive to burglars if they can see a return from taking them, items such as a large plasma television can be exchanged for drugs however that receiver or criminal specialists these goods are passed on to need to be legitimised, moved from the black market to the open market to be sold."
Mr Lindsay said one of the simplest ways of interdicting this illicit trade in attractive electronics is by home owners recording serial numbers on line via Operation SNAP, www.snap.org.nz.
"This initiative has Police working in partnership with a variety of businesses, banks, Trademe and Cash Converters to stop the flow in stolen goods and a few simple steps means the public can play an active part in the war against crime.
"Remember holiday weekends are about enjoyment, don't have your fond memories ruined by returning home to find a few minutes efforts could have prevented emotional tragedy."
End
03 June 2010
Some hard decisions aimed at addressing a rising residential burglary rate in the Waikato identified late last year have begun to pay dividends with a 56 per cent reduction recorded since January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said in November Police warned the public the City faced returning to the highs of 2007 in terms of the number of homes broken in to.
"From our perspective we looked at what we could do as an organisation and reallocated people and resources to effect change.
"This included the formation of a specialist Proactive Policing Team and a pilot Neighbourhood Policing Team to work alongside our existing Burglary Squad and Law Enforcement Team to proactively target recidivist dishonest and violent offenders."
Mr Lindsay said the activities of these squads had been highlighted recently with media coverage of the on-going Operation Persil and last year's Operation Surf.
"These proactive activities have resulted in about 200 arrests so far and will continue but we can't do it alone and there are a number of simple steps people can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim."
"Holiday weekends like the one starting tomorrow are all about families coming together but unfortunately not everyone takes the time off, offenders sometimes see the long weekend as a good opportunity for easy pluckings."
Mr Lindsay had some simple ideas for people intending going away this weekend;
• Ensure your home is secured, lock your doors, windows and garages.
• Try using electronic timers so your lights go on and off giving the appearance someone is home.
• If possible leave or have a friend park a car in your drive
• Install a home security system and place the stickers provided in visible locations to deter burglars.
• Tell your neighbours you're going away, ask them to check your mail, leave some washing on your line
• If you are home and you see something suspicious happening on your street- phone 111, don't assume Police already know what's going on
Mr Lindsay said the public would probably be dismayed if they knew Police often had to return items, believed to be stolen, to arrested offenders.
"Police have to be able to prove an item is stolen, one of the easiest ways we can do this is by being able to identify items by their serial numbers.
"Items are only attractive to burglars if they can see a return from taking them, items such as a large plasma television can be exchanged for drugs however that receiver or criminal specialists these goods are passed on to need to be legitimised, moved from the black market to the open market to be sold."
Mr Lindsay said one of the simplest ways of interdicting this illicit trade in attractive electronics is by home owners recording serial numbers on line via Operation SNAP, www.snap.org.nz.
"This initiative has Police working in partnership with a variety of businesses, banks, Trademe and Cash Converters to stop the flow in stolen goods and a few simple steps means the public can play an active part in the war against crime.
"Remember holiday weekends are about enjoyment, don't have your fond memories ruined by returning home to find a few minutes efforts could have prevented emotional tragedy."
End
03 June 2010
Some hard decisions aimed at addressing a rising residential burglary rate in the Waikato identified late last year have begun to pay dividends with a 56 per cent reduction recorded since January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said in November Police warned the public the City faced returning to the highs of 2007 in terms of the number of homes broken in to.
"From our perspective we looked at what we could do as an organisation and reallocated people and resources to effect change.
"This included the formation of a specialist Proactive Policing Team and a pilot Neighbourhood Policing Team to work alongside our existing Burglary Squad and Law Enforcement Team to proactively target recidivist dishonest and violent offenders."
Mr Lindsay said the activities of these squads had been highlighted recently with media coverage of the on-going Operation Persil and last year's Operation Surf.
"These proactive activities have resulted in about 200 arrests so far and will continue but we can't do it alone and there are a number of simple steps people can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim."
"Holiday weekends like the one starting tomorrow are all about families coming together but unfortunately not everyone takes the time off, offenders sometimes see the long weekend as a good opportunity for easy pluckings."
Mr Lindsay had some simple ideas for people intending going away this weekend;
• Ensure your home is secured, lock your doors, windows and garages.
• Try using electronic timers so your lights go on and off giving the appearance someone is home.
• If possible leave or have a friend park a car in your drive
• Install a home security system and place the stickers provided in visible locations to deter burglars.
• Tell your neighbours you're going away, ask them to check your mail, leave some washing on your line
• If you are home and you see something suspicious happening on your street- phone 111, don't assume Police already know what's going on
Mr Lindsay said the public would probably be dismayed if they knew Police often had to return items, believed to be stolen, to arrested offenders.
"Police have to be able to prove an item is stolen, one of the easiest ways we can do this is by being able to identify items by their serial numbers.
"Items are only attractive to burglars if they can see a return from taking them, items such as a large plasma television can be exchanged for drugs however that receiver or criminal specialists these goods are passed on to need to be legitimised, moved from the black market to the open market to be sold."
Mr Lindsay said one of the simplest ways of interdicting this illicit trade in attractive electronics is by home owners recording serial numbers on line via Operation SNAP, www.snap.org.nz.
"This initiative has Police working in partnership with a variety of businesses, banks, Trademe and Cash Converters to stop the flow in stolen goods and a few simple steps means the public can play an active part in the war against crime.
"Remember holiday weekends are about enjoyment, don't have your fond memories ruined by returning home to find a few minutes efforts could have prevented emotional tragedy."
End
03 June 2010
Some hard decisions aimed at addressing a rising residential burglary rate in the Waikato identified late last year have begun to pay dividends with a 56 per cent reduction recorded since January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said in November Police warned the public the City faced returning to the highs of 2007 in terms of the number of homes broken in to.
"From our perspective we looked at what we could do as an organisation and reallocated people and resources to effect change.
"This included the formation of a specialist Proactive Policing Team and a pilot Neighbourhood Policing Team to work alongside our existing Burglary Squad and Law Enforcement Team to proactively target recidivist dishonest and violent offenders."
Mr Lindsay said the activities of these squads had been highlighted recently with media coverage of the on-going Operation Persil and last year's Operation Surf.
"These proactive activities have resulted in about 200 arrests so far and will continue but we can't do it alone and there are a number of simple steps people can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim."
"Holiday weekends like the one starting tomorrow are all about families coming together but unfortunately not everyone takes the time off, offenders sometimes see the long weekend as a good opportunity for easy pluckings."
Mr Lindsay had some simple ideas for people intending going away this weekend;
• Ensure your home is secured, lock your doors, windows and garages.
• Try using electronic timers so your lights go on and off giving the appearance someone is home.
• If possible leave or have a friend park a car in your drive
• Install a home security system and place the stickers provided in visible locations to deter burglars.
• Tell your neighbours you're going away, ask them to check your mail, leave some washing on your line
• If you are home and you see something suspicious happening on your street- phone 111, don't assume Police already know what's going on
Mr Lindsay said the public would probably be dismayed if they knew Police often had to return items, believed to be stolen, to arrested offenders.
"Police have to be able to prove an item is stolen, one of the easiest ways we can do this is by being able to identify items by their serial numbers.
"Items are only attractive to burglars if they can see a return from taking them, items such as a large plasma television can be exchanged for drugs however that receiver or criminal specialists these goods are passed on to need to be legitimised, moved from the black market to the open market to be sold."
Mr Lindsay said one of the simplest ways of interdicting this illicit trade in attractive electronics is by home owners recording serial numbers on line via Operation SNAP, www.snap.org.nz.
"This initiative has Police working in partnership with a variety of businesses, banks, Trademe and Cash Converters to stop the flow in stolen goods and a few simple steps means the public can play an active part in the war against crime.
"Remember holiday weekends are about enjoyment, don't have your fond memories ruined by returning home to find a few minutes efforts could have prevented emotional tragedy."
End
03 June 2010
Some hard decisions aimed at addressing a rising residential burglary rate in the Waikato identified late last year have begun to pay dividends with a 56 per cent reduction recorded since January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said in November Police warned the public the City faced returning to the highs of 2007 in terms of the number of homes broken in to.
"From our perspective we looked at what we could do as an organisation and reallocated people and resources to effect change.
"This included the formation of a specialist Proactive Policing Team and a pilot Neighbourhood Policing Team to work alongside our existing Burglary Squad and Law Enforcement Team to proactively target recidivist dishonest and violent offenders."
Mr Lindsay said the activities of these squads had been highlighted recently with media coverage of the on-going Operation Persil and last year's Operation Surf.
"These proactive activities have resulted in about 200 arrests so far and will continue but we can't do it alone and there are a number of simple steps people can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim."
"Holiday weekends like the one starting tomorrow are all about families coming together but unfortunately not everyone takes the time off, offenders sometimes see the long weekend as a good opportunity for easy pluckings."
Mr Lindsay had some simple ideas for people intending going away this weekend;
• Ensure your home is secured, lock your doors, windows and garages.
• Try using electronic timers so your lights go on and off giving the appearance someone is home.
• If possible leave or have a friend park a car in your drive
• Install a home security system and place the stickers provided in visible locations to deter burglars.
• Tell your neighbours you're going away, ask them to check your mail, leave some washing on your line
• If you are home and you see something suspicious happening on your street- phone 111, don't assume Police already know what's going on
Mr Lindsay said the public would probably be dismayed if they knew Police often had to return items, believed to be stolen, to arrested offenders.
"Police have to be able to prove an item is stolen, one of the easiest ways we can do this is by being able to identify items by their serial numbers.
"Items are only attractive to burglars if they can see a return from taking them, items such as a large plasma television can be exchanged for drugs however that receiver or criminal specialists these goods are passed on to need to be legitimised, moved from the black market to the open market to be sold."
Mr Lindsay said one of the simplest ways of interdicting this illicit trade in attractive electronics is by home owners recording serial numbers on line via Operation SNAP, www.snap.org.nz.
"This initiative has Police working in partnership with a variety of businesses, banks, Trademe and Cash Converters to stop the flow in stolen goods and a few simple steps means the public can play an active part in the war against crime.
"Remember holiday weekends are about enjoyment, don't have your fond memories ruined by returning home to find a few minutes efforts could have prevented emotional tragedy."
End