Kia ora koutou, this week I want to talk about social media and crime.
While Facebook is a great place to discuss community issues, I need to emphasise that it is not a place for reporting crime. Earlier this week we had to hear about two reports of crime or suspicious behaviour that were posted on Facebook, with much discussion.
In the first case, a person who noticed a group of youths acting suspiciously in Rangiamohia Rd also picked up the phone and alerted police. We have good descriptions and we are making inquiries.
But in the second case, somebody reported on Facebook that they had seen someone acting suspiciously by shining a spotlight up driveways. On that occasion, they could have called 111 so that someone could attend immediately and investigate. Instead, we had to be alerted by the Facebook page administrator.
Can I say again that if you see something suspicious and it is happening now or has just happened, that you call 111 immediately. It is frustrating for us to have to try to respond to reports supplied via social media which can be some time after the incident has happened, rather than straight away when we have a much better chance of finding these people before they get too far away.
When you're calling 111 make sure you stipulate that the incident is happening now so that we are alerted immediately. The sooner you get on the phone to call us the better, and do emphasise to the call taker that the offenders are there or have just left and a description if possible.
At present one of our crime hot spots is around the Puataata Rd area and the streets leading off it so we are asking residents there to be vigilant and to keep things locked up and out of sight. That means locking your vehicle, even if it's parked in your driveway, and putting bikes and tempting items away, not leaving them lying around in plain view.
In this last week we have had a vehicle broken into and, sadly for some of our tamariki, two pet guinea pigs were stolen from a hutch near their house. There was also a burglary reported at the prison and we have arrested a local man who is currently in custody.
Another local bugbear at present is that there are a couple of young men who are riding their offroad motorbikes dangerously around town.
We've stopped and spoken to a 15-year-old who is being dealt with by Tūrangi Youth Aid and we're working with his family, however we are aware that there's others out there riding carelessly.
These bikes are coming from houses where there should be responsible adults and if they were to educate these young men that it's not safe to ride their motorbikes through the township, that there's a better place to ride them and to stop it before someone gets hurt, that would be a big help.
We also ask the community that if you have information on who these riders are to call us on 105 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 so we can talk to them and sort it out.
Kia pai tō wiki, Te Reipa.
Credit: Nzherald.co.nz
