Would-be crooks in Waipukurau and Waipawa might want to look up next time they consider committing a crime - chances are they have already been caught on camera.
Hawke's Bay Police area commander, Inspector Tania Kura, will be the special guest at a ceremony at Waipukurau police station on Tuesday, celebrating the launch of a network of CCTV cameras across the two towns.
Today's celebration has been a long time coming for Lloyd Lawrence, one of the founders of the CHB Community Security Trust, and CHB community constable Glynn Sharp, who have been working on the camera plan for the past few years.
Initially the crime-fighting pair's plan was to install a network of 10 strategically-placed cameras, six in Waipukurau and four in Waipawa, all linked to Waipukurau police station. The cameras are primarily to act as deterrents, but also record footage that can reviewed by police to help solve crimes.
As of last week, seven of the cameras were already installed and operational, providing good coverage of popular spots, including Nelly Jull Park in Waipawa and the public carpark at Waipukurau's AW Parsons Indoor Pool complex and adjacent children's playground.