Public urged to ‘keep an eye out’ after crime wave
OAMARU police were kept busy with a raft of suspicious incidents, including an arson attempt and a found Taser, at the weekend.
Police were called to an unoccupied property in Wharf St, South Hill, on Sunday morning after reports there had been an arson in the garage.
The fire, which was believed to have occurred some time during the previous week, had selfextinguished before it caused major damage.
During the same week, another property in Wharf St had its back door window broken.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said there was suspicious behaviour occurring in the area and asked residents to ‘‘keep an eye out’’.
On Saturday, a Taser was found on Solway St and was handed in to the Oamaru police station.
Tasers are illegal weapons and the incident was ‘‘very concerning’’.
‘‘The fact it was lying on a footpath where a child could pick it up . . . it is very dangerous,’’ Sgt Woodbridge said.
‘‘If the owner would like to come forward and tell me a bit about it, I’d appreciate that also.’’
Police recovered two stolen vehicles in Oamaru on Saturday.
The first had been stolen in College St, Oamaru North, on Thursday, and was found in Derwent St.
The other, which was stolen from Towey St, South Hill, on Friday was found on Chelmer St.
Both cars had been locked and the windows had been broken to gain entry.
Another vehicle, which had broken down in Reidston, south of Oamaru, was broken in to on Saturday night and items were stolen.
‘‘There are people out there who are stealing and taking advantage of other people,’’ Sgt Woodbridge said.
‘‘We ask people to make sure their property, vehicle, houses etc are secured and they’re reporting any suspicious behaviour.
‘‘If they think it’s wrong, [there’s] a good chance it probably is.’’