Site burglaries prompt warning

QUEENSTOWN Police are warning people to be cautious, after a spate of burglaries at the building site of a new 300home retirement village.

Three burglaries, believed to be connected, took place at Queenstown Country Club over the weekend of June 29July 2 and police believe the culprits could try to sell the stolen items.

The burglaries at the construction site, situated off Ladies Mile between Shotover Country and Lake Hayes Estate, came to the attention of police on Monday last week.

Several items of plumbing, electrical and concretecutting equipment were taken from containers stored on the site.

Equipment was taken from a house under construction on the site in the first incident.

After the burglaries, Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown, said the burglars were clearly ‘‘targeting tools and equipment off of building sites’’.

Police believed the stolen items might be put up for sale and said if an offer seemed too good to be true, to contact them.

Contractors are being reminded to ensure their tools are securely locked away, and labelled or engraved to ensure they could be returned if recovered.

Anyone with information about the burglaries or suspicious items being sold in the area or online can contact Constable Nicola Clark at nicola.clark@police.govt.nz.