Vandals strike schools again
There has been further damage to our local schools by youths following the recent window smashing incidents.
This has included more broken windows, rubbish bins and other damage around the schools right across town. These are however completely different kids from the earlier incidents which resulted in four teenagers being arrested.
It is the school holidays and it now seems to be a form of entertainment for these kids to go and play at the schools, which I am more than happy for them to do but unfortunately this sort of thing is continuing to happen.
On Sunday night for example at one or two in the morning 14 and 15 year-old kids were out playing spotlight. Parents need to be making sure their children are home by a reasonable hour to prevent further damage from taking place.
Schools are there for the community and they provide a service. They are also a place for kids to be able to go and play but if they keep doing this schools will become fenced off and restricted areas which will ruin it for everyone. Police have spoken to a number of youths involved in the latest incidents and inquires are ongoing.
There were a couple of minor burglaries where food has been taken and several youths have been referred to Youth Aid.
It is good to see however that people are calling us early for these things because that is how we are catching these guys.
There were 12 incidents this week and two arrests for assaults. The driver in these seems to be relationship problems and we have referred these people to our partner agencies such as TCOSS and Raukawa who will do some work to help these families out.
Putaruru has seen a bit of a spate in animal thefts where sheep have been slaughtered in their paddocks. During the last month 11 sheep in four or five separate incidents were slaughtered along with a pet cow.
If anyone sees anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, such as vehicles going up and down rural roads, call 111, the station on 885 0100, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.