Beggars use intimidation to solicit cash from locals
‘‘Please don’t give to them, if you want to help, try a local charity that can give proper all-round support.’’
Unfortunately from time to time we have an issue with beggars in our Franklin towns, Waiuku in particular has two to three regulars.
These people don’t live in our towns but travel here because people give them money.
Some could be called professionals because they travel from place to place soliciting money and go where the returns are best.
Please don’t give to them, if you want to help, try a local charity that can give proper all-round support.
Many beggars are intimidating people and using threatening tactics and making other people terrified to walk past them.
I was told of a story last week where someone bought a beggar a pie and he then tried to exchange it for cash at the bakery. So hunger wasn’t his problem - probably cigarettes and alcohol are - so your kindness is actually harming them in many cases.
A few weeks ago someone brought a beggar some fruit and was disheartened when they later walked past to see he’d thrown it into the gutter.
We don’t want beggars in our towns intimidating our vulnerable, please look at the bigger picture and stop giving them money.
Some recent happenings this week: Tuakau police arrested two people for several offences, a 20-year-old Pukekohe man and 17-yearold Pukekohe youth. They were connected with several burglaries and street robberies in Tuakau so hopefully this will reduce the number of burglaries in the town.
Last night Pukekohe Police pursued a vehicle in Pukekohe north for failing to stop. After an extended period, police subsequently arrested the two occupants, a 30-year-old Pukekohe man on a multitude of charges and the passenger, a 29-year-old woman also on several charges including breaching bail conditions.
And in Tuakau last week police executed a search warrant at Barnaby Rd house looking for evidence relating to a fraud and found a cannabis growing operation instead.
If you are aware of anyone cultivating cannabis or manufacturing drugs, even vague suspicion you can phone the police absolutely anonymously or e mail – we won’t take your name- 0800 555 111. This can be any information like who’s receiving property or has stolen property in their home etc.Or you can come into your local station and talk to a police officer.