Police call for fast reporting of crimes
A burglar who escaped after being disturbed as he broke into an Upper Hutt house was likely to go straight on to another crime, say police.
Following a recent incident in Elderslea, police are calling on people to report suspicious activity straight away.
After spotting a man walking up a driveway and knowing the homeowners were out for the evening, a neighbour went to have a look.
He disturbed the would-be burglar as he was climbing through a window of the house, causing him to run away.
‘‘This burglary was stopped but, by the neighbour not reporting the behaviour immediately, it’s likely the offender went on to commit another crime,’’ Hutt Valley community constable Flora Nielsen said.
‘‘The neighbour contacted the homeowners on the same day but police were not made aware of the incident until the following day,’’ she said.
‘‘This makes the issue significantly more difficult to investigate as evidence and witnesses are harder to find as time passes.
‘‘By reporting behaviour such as this immediately, you may help prevent a crime from occurring and save someone from becoming a victim.’’
Anyone spotting or suspecting a crime should call 111 or Wellington Police on 381 2000.
Residents need to be vigilant about home safety.
‘‘Often, burglars will be opportunistic and choose easy targets, such as homes with open windows or unlocked doors,’’ Neilsen said.
PROPERTY TIPS
Always lock up. Burglars enter through unlocked doors and windows or take advantage of weak locks.
Lock the front door if you’re in the back garden or doing something that needs a lot of concentration, such as studying or sewing. Lock away tools and ladders . Lock garden sheds and garage . Use sensor lights. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed so they don’t provide hiding places
Guard your keys and never have have personal details on them.