Police: Lock it or lose it to burglars

Police are warning Porirua and Kapiti Coast residents to lock it or lose it as an increase of reported burglaries and thefts hits the regions.

The areas hit hardest are Paraparaumu and Paraparaumu Beach, where unlocked vehicles parked in driveways and unlocked garages and sheds were being repeatedly targeted.

Police were unable to provide crime figures for the past six weeks but according to Statistics NZ there were 294 reported burglaries and thefts in the two months to August 31, an increase of 72 cases from the same time last year.

However, residents say the thieves are not just targeting unlocked, unattended or empty property.

A Kapiti man, who did not want to be named, has had the battery stolen from his car twice in the past three months. In both cases it was parked in his driveway.

‘‘I’m not sure how I’m meant to prevent that from happening when I don’t have a garage to lock my car into.’’

He knew of two other people who had batteries stolen in the past month, he said.

A Porirua woman had all the food stolen from her house while she was away overnight, the thieves gained access by prising open a window.

‘‘It’s the second time I’ve been robbed and it’s definitely not because I leave my door unlocked.’’

Detective sergeant Rebecca Cotton, of the Kapiti-Mana Tactical Crime Unit, said the community needed to ‘‘step up’’ to avoid becoming the next victim.

‘‘Don’t assume that because you may be at home, that someone won’t take the opportunity to steal from your unlocked vehicle or garage, or take that bike lying on your front lawn.’’

Basic security measures that reduce the likelihood of theft or burglary included locking houses and cars regardless of whether owners were on the property or not, she said.

‘‘It sounds simple, but the message just isn’t getting through,’’ she said.

‘‘Police are working hard to reduce victimisation as part of the Prevention First strategy.

‘‘However, at the end of the day, we need the community to assist us and take some responsibility for reducing their own risk.’’

Kapiti police are being kept busy by an increase of burglaries.