Siren theft the new trend
Authorities are no nearer to knowing how a trend of using stolen sirens for music battles originally caught on.
But it appears the new subculture is popular among groups of South Auckland youth.
In the past 12 months schools, train stations and other community sites have had fire sirens or speakers stolen to be used in socalled battles to be ‘‘Siren King’’.
An investigation into the issue by Fairfax Media revealed a number of Facebook pages set up to either sell sirens or promote people’s mobile sound systems.
One page with nearly 3000 members had more than 1000 sale posts in the past year - a number of which offered to sell or swap sirens for other items.
Many members of the page appear to be from Mangere and surrounding areas.
Counties Manukau West area commander Inspector Jason Hewett says the trend is popular among Pacific Island youth.
‘‘We’re seeing cars packed out with speakers or planks across a bike with speakers wired, playing music,’’ he says.
Most involved are under the age of 16.
‘‘We have had numerous apprehensions, which are passed to youth aid. But there’s no sign of this issue breaking just yet,’’ Hewett says.
Police are aware of numerous Facebook pages relating to the battles. And a number of investigations are continuing with teenagers being spoken to.
‘‘It’s a new trend... [the sirens] are attractive because the way they’re designed is for high volume. They’re competing to be the loudest,’’ Hewett says.
Police are also working with the sites repeatedly targeted for the siren thefts, he says.
‘‘They’re changing the types of sirens they use, as before they could be easily taken off with a
crowbar. Now some are engraving the school’s name on the siren so they can easily be identified.’’
An industry insider believes 90 per cent of sirens on one Facebook page appear to be stolen, given an influx of stolen sirens across Auckland in the past year.
‘‘There are speakers on there that have complicated wiring and are the kind of thing you would usually see on top of a lamp post at the corner of a rugby field.’’
Go to manukaucourier.co.nz to see full coverage of the investigation.