Bobbies on the beach
Police will be visible during this week's Snapper Bonanza on Ninety Mile Beach. In previous events, opportunistic thieves targeted vehicles while everyone was busy with prizegiving, Senior Sergeant Russell Richards said. This year, police hoped to prevent any cars being broken into. Police also wanted to encourage participants to make good decisions about drink driving, Richards said. "We want everyone to have a good time and enjoy the Snapper Bonanza but get home safely so they're back next year."
Locals asked to watch out
More tourists targeted by thieves in the Far North has prompted police to ask locals to tuck tourists under their wings. After German tourists Nico Lustig and Janina Hinnear had their possessions stolen at Ahipara last week, a Polish couple were targeted on Thursday night. The couple were camping in Mangonui when they were approached by a man who asked to borrow a phone charger. The man then attempted to steal the phone charger, Kaitaia Senior Sergeant Russell Richards said. One of the tourists intervened to stop the man from leaving with the phone charger, and the man threw the charger back at the tourists.
A 28-year-old Coopers Beach man was later arrested and charged over the incident. He appeared in the Kaitaia District Court on Friday and was remanded in custody until March 22. Richards said the tourists had been having a good time in New Zealand until this incident, with people offering them food and places to stay. "It's a reminder for locals to look after the tourists because they bring money to the community and they help the [vibrancy] of the community," he said.
