Crime in city down by a quarter
Every week, Janene Burnett sees at least two burglaries posted on her community Facebook page and last week, her neighbour’s four-wheel-drive was stolen from outside their house.
The topic is particularly sensitive for the 32-year-old and her husband Hugh after $100,000 of property was stolen from their home in Richmond, Christchurch, last year.
The couple, who were expecting a baby at the time, returned from a weekend away to find their home ransacked – with burglars even taking a wedding dress and new clothes for their little one.
Burnett said she had noticed an increased police presence in the area over the past six months, but was unsure if it was making a difference.
“A lot of [the burglary activity] is quite close to where we live ... It looks like it’s still quite rampant around us.”
However, despite this perception, there has been a significant downturn in volume crime statistics.
Between May and December 2023 burglary numbers were down by more than a third (37%) and theft dropped by 19% – driven by a 50% drop in the number of cars being stolen for joyrides.
The change means more than 5000 Christchurch residents have avoided being targeted by criminals in seven months.
Police say the drop can be attributed, in part, to the targeting of youth and high-risk offenders – a select number of whom are often responsible for multiple incidents.
The Burnetts said they were quite surprised to hear about the change given the number of burglaries still happening in their community.
In 2023, The Press reported on out of control teens bragging about their escapades online, including a prolific 13-year-old car thief who was arrested after an 800km car joyride ended with a crash.
Volume crime also skyrocketed, with tens of thousands of people affected. People in communities from Burwood, to Hornby and Heathcote Valley came together to air their concerns and ask for more from police.
Reports of illegal use of a motor vehicle (where a vehicle is stolen and later recovered), increased by 126% in the 12 months to January 2023.
Numbers peaked in May, with 705 cars stolen, but then plummeted to their lowest point in 20 months, with 299 cars taken in November. Theft statistics – including theft of motor vehicles, and from individuals and retail – have also dropped.
Peaking at 2582 victimisations in May 2023, numbers fell 19% to 2084 in November 2023.
Burglary, the act of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, has dropped 37% from 825 incidents in May 2023 to 522 in December.
Senior Sergeant Roy Appley, who leads Christchurch’s community policing team, said while there wasn’t a single thing that had helped bring the numbers down, the police’s focus on youth crime and high risk offenders had helped.
“Often, multiple instances of theft can be by a small group of people, and therefore when police identify and hold those people to account, this shows in the figures.”
A multi-agency programme helped target the young ringleaders, who often had significant social media influence.
The National Retail Investigation Support Unit, which was set up in 2021 following the increase in ramraids across the country, was also targeting more recidivist retail offenders, Appley said.
In mid-2023, police foot patrols were reintroduced in Christchurch’s CBD, the area where the most volume crime was reported.
Suburbs including Riccarton, Sydenham, Linwood East and Shirley East were amongst the areas in the city most targeted by criminals.
Appley said it was pleasing to see the reduction in crime as he knew how frustrating it was for victims.
Janene Burnett said the burglary at her home was not only difficult for her family, but had a profound impact on their whole street.
She and her husband did not like to leave their house empty overnight now and always made sure someone could house sit, or that their neighbours were aware of their absence.
“It has ... improved the relationships with our neighbours, but our street is still grappling with what has happened,” she said.
They had installed alarms, extra lighting, deadlocks and window stays, some of which was funded by police.
“I always joke and say I've got more security now than I had back in South Africa,” Burnett said.
Santana Smith, 24, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for her role in the burglary, as well as another where she and an associate entered a 56-year-old widow’s home and stole her wedding and engagement rings, and gifts given to her by her late husband.
Burnett said now the court case and the insurance claim were settled, she felt she could move on with her life. But despite police being able to return some precious personal items, like her wedding dress and wedding rings, the items feel tainted.