$32.9m package for burglary prevention ‘long overdue’
A Whangarei woman says if her doors had deadbolts she may have been spared the violation of another burglary.
The Budget has promised help for repeat burglary victims in the form of extra security such as window locks, security lights and bolt locks.
However, for Raven Donovan, whose home was burgled in March, it was too late.
“I had a phone call from a neighbour about someone kicking our door. It wasn’t dead bolted or any- thing.” Having already had to endure her Whangarei business being burgled, she said her home was ransacked.
Shoes, clothes, lamps, chairs and tables were all taken.
“Two kauri benches, which were made by my stepdad who has passed away, and they belong to my mum.
“All they left really was a rug, they took everything . . . they cleaned the place out.”
She said it was “nice to hear” of the Government’s new initiative for burglary victims, but had already taken measures to install extra security into her new home. As part of the Government’s “social investment” package, $32.9 million over four years will be spent on burglary prevention.
Burglary resolution rates have dropped below 10 per cent, prompting the Herald to run a series highlighting the issue last year.
A spokeswoman for Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams said of the $32.9m announced for reducing and preventing burglary, $14.1m will be for increasing the security of a home that is likely to be repeatedly targeted by burglars.
She said predictive modelling has identified 26,427 people who were recent victims of a burglary or other similar crimes and are predicted to suffer at least one similar offence in future.
“Half of this group is aged between 20 and 39, while 21 per cent is on a benefit,” she said.
She said those to be offered help with securing their home will be identified by police investigating the burglary. It is expected up to 14,000 dwellings over four years could receive added security measures, she said.
The solution for each individual case is situation dependent, the spokeswoman said.
Intertwined in the burglary push is $13.9 million to be spent over the next four years to reduce youth reoffending.
The Children’s Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, hailed the funding for independent youth monitoring and said it was a significant step forward for children in the care and protection and youth justice systems.