Neighbourhood robbers tracked
Acouple who have had their Te Puna business ransacked four times in recent months say it is time local people were aware of repeat offenders living in the community.
Phil and Paula Reed own the Quiedan tunnel houses construction company on Munro Road, visible from State Highway 2.
In the first of the overnight robberies, $30,000 worth of tools and an $8,000 customised work trailer were stolen and remain outstanding.
In a second visit, thieves took imported samples of black posts made of recycled waste oil, which were going to be part of a trial comparison against the use of tanalised timber.
The third time, vandalised a forklift, stole its battery, and smashed its computer control system. They also took around $10,000 worth of cable frames and other materials.
After the third break-in, they were told theirs was one of four businesses installing security cameras on Munro Road that day, due to repeated thefts and vandalism.
They also closed in a tunnel to lock everything away, which was broken into in the latest incident when thieves smashed cameras and lights.
“They’ve even taken hand wash soap three times, a hose, and cut off a tap,’ says Phil.
“They are so brazen, they are just going to carry on until they are caught,” says Paula.
In the most recent incident, Phil was able to recover his trailer of tools having fitted it with a tracking device and followed it.
“I’d advise everyone with a trailer to get a GPS tracker. It’s $125 well spent,” Paula says.
The trailer had been taken to a residential address near the rugby club at Māramatanga Park. With Phil at the address and the police on their way, the thieves then dumped the mostly stillladen trailer in the club’s car park.