Crime and Incidents
Covid has caused issues with our local police staff, three have been diagnosed with the virus and are isolating at home.
Burglaries
A burglary was reported on Layla Place. A large number of tools were stolen from a garden shed.
Between the 18th and 23rd March, an attempt has been made to force open a garage door at a Strathmore Drive, Aongatete property.
Theft
We continue to have reports of mail getting stolen from rural areas. Please report any suspicious behaviour.
A female shoplifter decamped from Ōmokoroa Fresh Choice and left in a vehicle. Enquiries continuing.
Sometime around the 25th of March a Holden Astra that has been parked on Ōmokoroa Road for a while has been broken into and some parts were stolen from it.
Unlawful taking of motor vehicles
A vehicle was stolen from Katikati and then recovered by police in Waihī, the suspect has been summonsed to appear in the Waihī district court.
Wilful damage
We have been informed about various tagging incidents in the Katikati area, police inquiries have identified suspects and they will be interviewed.
Arrests and apprehensions
Male arrested for a family harm incident in Te Puna.
A 37-year-old Tauranga man has been charged with breaching a protection order and assaulting a person in a family relationship after an incident in Ōmokoroa on the 27th March. He has been remanded in custody until the 9th May.
A 49-year-old Kauri Point man has been charged with possession of cannabis after being found with a quantity of cannabis during a traffic stop in the early hours of the 19th March.
A 54-year-old Whakamārama man has been charged with careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury after a twovehicle crash in Whakamārama on the 15th of March.
General
It’s great to see things slowly getting back to normal. It has been a difficult time with Covid affecting so many people in so many ways whether it be through catching the virus or the effects of working around the virus.
The Police have not been immune to these pressures and staff going off sick which has challenged our staffing levels at times. I myself have been off sick for a period of time but I’m glad to say I have come out the other side. It’s something to be avoided if you can. It’s not a walk in the park for a lot of people.
The kiwifruit season is well underway and Easter is fast approaching. As always there will be some delays with all of the road improvements going on around the place so be patient and you will make your destination eventually. The road improvements should be worth the inconvenience in the long run.
The public counter is open, but I would encourage people to keep on reporting crime and incidents online through the Police website or by ringing 105 unless it is urgent in which case 111 is the goto number.