Napier Police Inspector Carla Gilmore looks at a map showing high crime areas in red in Napier central suburbs. Photo / Warren Buckland
Napier Police Inspector Carla Gilmore looks at a map showing high crime areas in red in Napier central suburbs. Photo / Warren Buckland
A significant increase in thefts and burglaries in Napier and surrounding areas has police urging residents to take precautions.
Since June, offenders have been targeting Napier Hill, Napier South, Marewa and Ahuriri.
However, police Inspector Carla Gilmore said it had become "really pronounced" over the last two weeks and hadnot abated since.
"For us, these types of issues are consistent and happen all the time and I guess there is a threshold we come to expect, but in this case, it's just gone off in that particular area and it is not something we normally see."
Rather than the contents of houses being targeted, offenders have been taking items "easily accessible" around properties, she said.
And while it wasn't possible at this time to quantify how many times it has occurred, Gilmore believed it was double the amount usually reported, with no pattern or time of day in particular being targeted.
"What we can understand from how these offenders are operating that there are several, not just one person or one group who are responsible.
"The offenders are going into unlocked garages and sheds and taking tools; and from decks, porches and yards taking ornaments, clothing and barbecues."
She urged residents to remove anything of sentimental value and ensure items are secured or locked away, and if there is any suspicious behavior, to call 111.
Napier Hill is one of the areas in Napier experiencing a significant increase in thefts and burglaries, police say. Photo / File
"People can hesitate to use 111 because it is not an emergency, but it is the way we want people to contact us when there is something suspicious because that is the way we can then react in a timely way to hopefully catch these people."
Despite residents taking precautions with the use of CCTV, attempts at identifying the offenders have proven unsuccessful.
"At the end of the day we just want people to be aware and look out for each other," Gilmore said.
"We hate people being targeted and victimised because it affects people in different ways, but we all just have to try and take some steps to make it as unattractive as possible for these people who think they can just take things that aren't theirs'."
If you see suspicious behavior call 111 or if items have been stolen call the Napier Police station on 06 831 0700.
