Editorial: Tougher stance could save further looting heartache

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters wants a tougher stance on looting during emergencies. Photo / Duncan Brown

It's not often that I agree with Winston Peters but he made a valid point this week.

The New Zealand First leader is calling for tougher laws on looting.

There have been too many reports of people being burgled as they fled their homes in the early hours of Monday.

These residents were just abiding by the tsunami warning sparked by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and were going to a safer spot.

The most heart-wrenching story was that of the Mill family.

Christchurch couple Melissa and Matt Mill have two daughters, one with muscular dystrophy.

They left their New Brighton home at 2am, following the advice of Civil Defence, and when they returned five hours later it was ransacked. Among the stolen property was a hearing device used by their disabled daughter and a work truck.

It would have been bad enough waking the children, bundling them into the car and keeping them calm during the whole ordeal.

But to come home and find your home and privacy has been invaded would have been unbearable.

Now that's really kicking a man, or family, when they're down.

Fortunately there were no burglaries reported in Hawke's Bay between 1am and 6am on Monday.

Mr Peters wants the Government to introduce tougher laws on looting during a civil emergency.

Looters are preying on other's misfortune and a strong deterrent is needed.

As a police officer stated so well: "The fear of being looted should not trump personal safety."

Plus the police don't need to be tied up dealing with burglaries when they're trying to deal with an emergency.

Harsher penalties may just stop a bad situation becoming worse.