Town rallies to support burgled couple
The Huntly community has rallied to help a besieged elderly couple being persecuted by thieves.
And police say several people have come forward with information and nominated suspects.
Offers to help Margaret and Jim Harriot have flooded in since they spoke to the Waikato Times about their ongoing trouble with burglars repeatedly entering their home and stealing everything from their television and phones to afghan biscuits and milk from the fridge.
In the last six weeks, the couple have endured multiple break-ins at their Huntly West home.
‘‘Our back door is like a revolving door,’’ 81-year-old Margaret Harriot said yesterday after the outpouring of support.
‘‘I’m absolutely amazed, completely and utterly. I always had faith in the community, that there was some good in it, somewhere, but it just has to be brought out.’’
The couple have been inundated with offers of help.
‘‘I’ve met some new friends, there are lots of people coming in, but we’re not used to that. We’re used to the quiet, peaceful life … except for the burglars.’’
Hundreds of people took to social media to share their outrage at the couple’s situation, offering them financial and service support.
Huntly primary school teacher Kellee Te Wara collated the offers through the local Huntly Facebook page and presented them to the couple yesterday.
‘‘The community was pretty disgusted and there was an outpouring of help and support. Rather than have lots of people turn up, I organised a central place for the support to start.’’
People had offered pick-up and delivery laundry services, locked storage and security systems, as well as money, she said.
‘‘They accepted what they wanted and graciously declined what they didn’t need.
‘‘They still want their independence but know the community support is there as well.
‘‘We as a community need to look after our elderly and their neighbours and that’s what’s happening.’’
Police received a swathe of information over the weekend, Western Waikato response manager Detective Sergeant Will Loughrin said.
‘‘People have nominated possible suspects involved and police are following those up.
‘‘We’re also liaising with members of the public who have come forward in the community and offered their help.’’
In the past 18 months, police have received five reported crimes at the property, he said, and during that time the neighbourhood policing team had worked closely with the couple to offer support services and improve home security.
One person was arrested and is currently before the courts.
Huntly Ward councillor Shelley Lynch, who lives on the west side of Huntly, said the Harriots’ plight was diabolical.
‘‘It’s very disappointing that people of that age are being targeted. We can’t have this happen again to victims who have retired in Huntly.’’
What was happening was so blatant someone in the community ‘‘must know who’s doing it’’, she said.
‘‘It’s not surprising because of the amount of crime that is generated in Huntly West – it’s a scary place after work,’’ she said.
‘‘I grew up in Smith Avenue and I still live in Huntly West, so I know the makeup of the community, so I can’t say I’m surprised.
‘‘The state of some of the unoccupied housing in Huntly West is really bad.’’