Troublemakers ‘put everyone else at risk’

SOME Oamaru residents continue to flout the nationwide Covid19 lockdown, raising the ire of police.

In two separate incidents, an Oamaru man known to police allegedly went to a Thames Highway address about 10pm on Wednesday and confronted another person, before punching them.

That followed an earlier report of a person discovered at a property in McLean St, north Oamaru, that they had been trespassed from.

Inquiries are continuing into both incidents.

Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy, of Oamaru, said the incidents were of particular concern given the current climate, as those involved put everyone at risk.

‘‘We have got Covid19 going on. What are these people doing?

‘‘It’s not ideal. We are not encouraging that movement at all. We really want people to be staying in lockdown and in their bubble. We don’t want them going 30km down the Alps 2 Ocean trail, we don’t want them going to the beach,’’ Snr Sgt McCoy said.

‘‘We don’t really want people from the South Hill area going to the North End of Oamaru . . . they should be keeping in their own little suburb. We are disappointed people are breaching that.’’

His plea comes just days after he echoed the words of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has urged residents to ‘‘be kind’’ amid the lockdown.

Meanwhile, a man sustained minor injuries after his vehicle left State Highway 1 near Maheno, south of Oamaru, between 1am and 2am yesterday.

Snr Sgt McCoy said the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle had failed to negotiate a slight bend.

Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, he said.

The man was taken to Oamaru Hospital by ambulance.

Inquiries are continuing.