Personal responsibility key to community safety

‘‘The sale and supply of drugs is the predominant cause of burglary and thefts. Your stolen law mower can be sold for cash and used to purchase cannabis or meth within minutes of the crime happening. We need to break this cycle. ’’

Senior Sergeant Steve Richards has returned to Pukekohe as the officer in charge of Franklin communities which includes Tuakau and Waiuku.

The past 12 months he had been reliving Inspector at Ormiston Police Station and I was filling in for him in Franklin that time.

His return means I will return to my former position and from next week Steve will be writing this column.

Pretty much the theme of my columns has been how to prevent yourself from being a crime victim. That’s a victim of a burglary, theft, frauds, scams, violence in and outside the home, road trauma etc.

So many of these occurrences would not have happened if there had been less apathy and people taking more responsibility for protecting yourselves and your property, not forgetting look- ing out for others.

Here’s a summary of some advice: Secure and mark your possessions; be alert of what’s going on around you - in the street, on your road, at the neighbour’s; think where you park your car; don’t give out PIN numbers to anyone; don’t give money to strangers; don’t trust financial transactions through relatively unknown banks and credit unions especially overseas-based; avoid excess alcohol consumption; don’t take drugs - it’s always a downward spiral; slow down when cornering; stop at stop signs; wear a seat belt.

Police have a huge amount of resources available to help victims of family violence, we will make you and your family safe - seek help now.

If a crime is happening now or you think something’s not right, phone police on 111. That’s what we are there for. Tell us about it - not your Facebook page.

If you have information that you want to be confidential, call Crimestoppers on 0800 Crimestoppers. We want to know about people receiving stolen property and people selling drugs.

The sale and supply of drugs is the predominant cause of burglary and thefts. Your stolen law mower can be sold for cash and used to purchase cannabis or meth within minutes of the crime happening. We need to break this cycle.

The good news is 99 per cent of people are not out to steal or harm you, you should have complete trust and confidence in your local police, we live in a safe and great community in Franklin.

It takes all of us to keep it that way.

LOST PROPERTY

Pukekohe police have recovered items they are keen to return to owners. Items include a grey bike found in View Rd, Waiuku; an Apple iPad found in Tuakau; a Samsung cellphone found in Bombay; a greenstone necklace found at Colin Lawrie Fields, Pukekohe; a woman’s silver watch found outside Muffin Break Pukekohe; and property belonging to Joseph King and Isaak Manukau.