Petty crime keeps patrol on their toes

Bethlehem Community Patrol fundraiser and spokesman Colin Leech and patrol chairman Dave Eru are seeking more members. Photo / John Borren

Destroyed letterboxes, plants and trees are being reported throughout Bethlehem. In the most recent cases, the Bay of Plenty Times reported elderly women in Cambridge Heights had been left frightened after having their letterboxes set on fire.

Bethlehem Community Patrol spokesman Colin Leech said there had been numerous reports of letterbox damage, plants and trees destroyed, as well as trailers being tampered with in the Orange Lane, St Andrews Rd and Castlewold Drive areas.

One Orange Lane resident had their mailbox ripped off its stand three times in the past four months, he said.

However, Mr Leech said some of the wilful damage incidents came to his attention only after victims posted reports on the Neighbourly website.

Mr Leech said that last week in St Andrews Drive someone tried to steal a vehicle carrier, but the security lights came on and the carrier was found abandoned in the middle of the road.

In the early hours of Thursday in Harrison Rd, near the Seventh Day Adventist Church, two wheelbarrows and the wheels of a horse float were stolen, he said.

Another resident in St Andrews Drive, who declined to be named, said her property had been damaged numerous times in the past 12 months.

"Our car has been keyed, our letterbox knocked off, trees broken in half and branches torn off, and a few weeks ago someone tore the windscreen wiper off our car parked in the driveway. We also had a bong for smoking drugs dumped underneath our hedge." The woman said the incidents had not been reported to police because her husband did not want to trouble them. However, she would report future incidents.

Mr Leech said police could investigate only if they know about offending. It also helped community patrols to know which areas they needed to focus on.

Bethlehem Community Patrol has 15 members and needs more volunteers.

Patrol chairman Dave Eru said: "Our community patrol has to cover a very wide area, and the more volunteers we have, the more areas we can cover and the more eyes and ears for police."

Tauranga police area response manager Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross said that since the start of June there had been two reports of wilful damage in the Bethlehem area.

"Our figures are clearly different to that which has been described to the Bay of Plenty Times.

"Our message to residents is to remain vigilant, take care to protect their property, and immediately report any offending or suspicious activity."