Burglaries are on the rise in Tauranga. Photo/Getty Images
In the first of a series on Bay crime, Samantha Motion looks into the numbers on burglary in Tauranga. The figures come from the most in-depth look at crime data ever undertaken in New Zealand, led by Herald Insights.
According to police statistics, in the first three months of 2015 the city averaged about three reports of burglaries and break-ins a day. In the same period in 2016 it was four a day.
This year: five a day.
Let's put it this way: more burglaries were reported in the six months to March this year than in the 12 months to June 2015. Half the time, as many crimes.
Police say it is hard to pinpoint why this type of crime is rising in Tauranga.
Sometimes there were personal factors at play - a job loss, a drug addiction.
In other cases, criminals were simply taking advantage of opportunities - unlocked doors, tools in open carports, bikes on the front lawn.
Western Bay of Plenty police acting area commander Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said total reported crime in Tauranga had remained "relatively stable" over the past few years.
That was in spite of the city's surging population.
"We have had a rise in some crimes and a decrease in others," he said.
"We should understand that most criminals are opportunists, and the more we do to keep ourselves and our property safe the less likely we are to become a victim."
Top cop's top 3 burglary prevention tips
Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair's suggestions for reducing the chance of a burglary at your place.
1.Secure your property
Use a high-quality lock on your garden shed and consider security lighting. Lock your door even if you are in the back garden or having a rest inside.
2. Lock away tools and ladders
Thieves can often use these to gain access to your home.
Be vigilant and communicate with your neighbours. If you see something suspicious - ring the police.
Nationwide trend
In last month's Budget, the Government committed $32.9 million over four years for burglary prevention, in the face of a national upward trend in burglary.
From July 2014 to this March, more than 180,000 burglaries were reported in New Zealand.
Of those, 3500 were in Tauranga.
Brett Morrison made two of those reports. Burglars hit his Papamoa home twice in two weeks last September. After that he moved to the Mount.
"I think it might have hindered in the end. It was so spoken about that I wonder if the person who has it can't get rid of it now. It's too hot. So they might have just dumped it."
Aside from moving, he said the crimes did not change how he lived his life that much.
He was a bit more wary about having strangers come to his home and has been looking into security cameras. He has also been happy to get know his neighbours - just in case.
Tauranga's most hit suburbs
These areas had the most burglary and break-in reports in Tauranga City from July 2014 to March 2017.
#1 Omanu (308) #2 Arataki (255) #3 Tauranga South (240) #4 Greerton (186) #5 Tauranga Hospital (176) #6 Te Maunga (161) #7 Tauranga Central (156) #8 Mount Maunganui North (149) #9 Gate Pa (143) #10 Pyes Pa (131)
- Half of burglary reports have no day, 70 per cent have no time - The most common day and time for burglaries was 12pm Wednesday, 4pm Monday and 11pm Saturday - Zero burglaries were reported at 5am or 7am Wednesday or 9am Sunday - Sunday was the most common day overall, - Tuesday was the least common - More burglaries happened around midday than midnight - Early morning, 5-8am, had the fewest burglaries