Crime and incident report
Burglaries
A New Holland tractor parked at the new Tākitimu Northern Link project had its fuel tank ruptured and diesel stolen. The total cost of this damage and stolen diesel has been estimated at $5,000.
Overnight on 4th August, two shipping containers belonging to BOP Paddle Sports were broken into and kayaking equipment stolen.
The following burglaries all occurred overnight on 6th August. Suspects stole a vehicle from the Te Puna Tavern, later abandoned in the Waikato.
A weed eater stolen from a carport on Ōmokoroa Road.
A BBQ and other items stolen from a property on Kaylene Place, Ōmokoroa.
The Whaka Seafood Basket and the Whaka Superette were both broken into. Four offenders wearing masks and gloves have been captured on CCTV.
A garden shed broken into on Anderley Avenue, Ōmokoroa and various tools and a water blaster stolen.
The GJ Gardner show home in Ōmokoroa was broken and entered by forcing open a ranch slider.
A kiwifruit orchard on Tuapiro Road had tools and other items stolen from a shed on the property.
Tools taken from a shed on Wills Road, Katikati on the night of 7th August.
Stihl chainsaws stolen from a rural shed on McQuade Road, Whakamārama overnight on 7th August.
On 7th August, a shed on Wright Road entered by damaging a roller door. An attempt made to steal a Quad Bike, but the alarm may have disturbed the offenders.
In the early hours of Sunday 7th, someone entered a shed and vehicle on Crawford Road, Te Puna, but nothing appears to be taken.
Early on 8th August, a 2014 Honda TRX 500 ATV Quad was stolen from a Lockington Road property.
A TV, heater and other miscellaneous property were stolen from the recreation room at Katikati Holiday Park, on the night of 11th August.
Between the 4th and 14th August, a McCullough chainsaw, Ryobi battery and fuel can were stolen from an open garage on Tranquil Grove, Ōmokoroa.
Theft
On 26th July, three vehicles were broken into during the day, two parked at the Haiku Walkway, and one parked at the Dave Hume Pools. Police have identified a suspect.
A wallet was dropped in Katikati library and then had cash stolen from it. Unfortunately, CCTV footage does not cover the area where the offence was committed.
Two persons were located in an avocado orchard on Barrett Road, they left when approached. Nothing was stolen but appears they were interrupted by a neighbour.
A credit card and passports were stolen from an unsecured vehicle parked at a Katikati Motel on 8th August.
Found Property
A distinctive woman’s bicycle was located on Highfields Drive, Katikati.
Unlawful taking of Motor Vehicles
Nissan D Max utility stolen from Martha Lane, Whakamārama on 8th August (see apprehensions).
A vehicle stolen from the Te Puna Tavern and then used in the burglaries at the Whakamārama Shops. Obviously, suspects for the offending in Ōmokoroa.
On the afternoon of 9th August, a vehicle’s ignition was damaged at the Te Puna Shopping Centre in what was a likely attempt to steal it.
Wilful Damage
A 2016 utility vehicle was deliberately set alight at a Waterford Road, Katikati address at around 3.10 am on 12th August. We would like to hear from the public about any suspicious activity in the vicinity that evening. Tauranga CIB is assisting with enquiries.
Arrests and apprehensions
A male was arrested for breaching a police safety order.
A 32-year-old Te Puna man was arrested for breaching a protection order and assaulting a person in a family relationship on the 3rd August.
A 64-year-old Whakamārama man has been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol and driving whilst disqualified. His manner of driving led Police to stop him on SH2 in Whakamārama on the 6th August.
A 25-year-old Katikati woman has been charged with four recent petrol drive-offs at service stations from Waihī to Bethlehem.
A 45-year-old Auckland woman has been charged with stealing a TV and decoder from a Katikati Motel on 21st August.
A 44-year-old man of no fixed abode was arrested in Tauranga on 11th August after he was seen driving a stolen Nissan utility recklessly in Bethlehem. He has been charged with unlawfully taking two vehicles, failing to remain stopped for Police (twice), driving whilst disqualified (twice), reckless driving and theft (twice). He has been remanded in custody until 26th August. A 44-year-old Bethlehem woman who was also in the vehicle has been charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and breaching Home Detention. She has been remanded in custody until 25th August.
A 14-year-old Athenree youth has been interviewed in relation to the attempted unlawful taking of three vehicles, and a break-in to another, which all occurred on 26th July at the Dave Hume Pools and Haiku Walkway. He has been referred to the Youth Aid team.
On 12th August, a 25-year-old Katikati woman was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court on theft charges.
Seven people were processed over one week for driving with excess breath alcohol from Whakamārama to Katikati. Four of those were apprehended in
Katikati on the Saturday night. Drivers were evenly split between male and female and were aged between 21 and 53. It is great to see that there were no under 20-year-olds in this group.
On 15th August, a 25-year-old Katikati woman was arrested and charged with the theft of liquor from a local store. Her vehicle was also impounded as she had previously been forbidden to drive.
General
A scam where the informant received a call from a person claiming to be from PayPal. The scammer asked for a credit card number which was provided. Nearly $1,000 was taken from the account. Luckily the bank has assisted in stopping the transaction.
Another where the informant received a call from a person claiming to be from the ANZ Bank. The scammer has asked the victim to install an app which she has done, money has then been taken from her account.
A 21-year-old male was caught driving while disqualified. He will appear in the Tauranga District Court.
Police attended the sudden death of a male in Ōmokoroa.
A single-vehicle accident on Beach Road, Katikati resulted in the driver being processed for driving with excess breath alcohol.
A Safer Plates event will be run by Ōmokoroa Community Patrols. It is run to help with vehicle-related crime. Patrollers replace the regular screws on the number plates of cars with tamper-resistant screws. The aim of this event is to reduce the number of stolen registration plates that can be used to commit crimes. Weather permitting, it will take place on 15th October. The location should be finalised soon.
A driver was stopped by police after travelling at 54km/hr above the speed limit. His driver’s licence was suspended for 28 days, and he was also summonsed to appear in the Tauranga District court on a dangerous driving charge.
If you see something, say something. Call 111 if it’s happening now. Call 105 if it is after the event.