Cameras help Hawke's Bay police catch thieves

CCTV cameras have helped pick up shoplifters after five recorded incidents in Napier. Photo/File

The security value of CCTV surveillance systems has been reinforced over the past month with five shoplifting incidents in the Pandora business area last month being solved and offenders dealt with.

Hawke's Bay Police Constable Mike Burne, who is the police presence in the area, said the thefts all took place at Prebensen Drive businesses and had been resolved due to "vigilant staff and CCTV".

The camera work was especially valuable in combating shoplifting as images also formed shoplifter "montages" which were distributed to businesses around the area.

Police are however still seeking one thief who made off with several "Milwaukee" brand power tools from a hardware shop in Austin St, Onekawa recently.

He was described as a dark-skinned male of thin build and 1.72m (5 foot 8) and was wearing a yellow high-visibility vest.

In two other recent thefts reported to police the owner of a fishing boat moored at Nelson Quay arrived aboard to discover a large amount of fishing and general boating gear had been stolen.

Mr Burne said the complainant's description of the burglary was that he had been "cleaned out".

And the owners of a building off Tu Atu St in Ahuriri found someone had removed its copper downpipes.