Alarm ends burglary nightmare

Charlotte Hill's burglary nightmare started exactly seven years ago.

The first time the burglars struck, they stole $15,000 worth of her property. By the fourth time, they had stolen her peace of mind.

But Mrs Hill, who lives in South Auckland, is striking back, with a little help from the Government.

The 58-year-old's home has been fitted with a burglar alarm, window stays and window locks under a $1.3 million scheme to protect low-income repeat burglary victims and cut the number of burglaries.

The four-year Target Hardening programme was launched at Mrs Hill's house yesterday by Justice Minister Phil Goff. It is aimed at people who have been burgled at least twice.

The initiative has been on trial in 24 homes in Auckland since April. None has been burgled since the trial started.

It will spread from Auckland to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the next few months, and to the rest of the country by year's end. It is being run by the Council of Victim Support Groups.

An average of 300 victims are expected to be helped each year. Target Hardening was announced as part of a $14 million anti-burglary plan, unveiled by the Government last year.

Burglaries last year dropped 10.7 per cent over the previous year, but still totalled 66,520.

Mrs Hill told the Weekend Herald she had hardly had a decent night's sleep since first being burgled just two months after moving into her home in 1994.

Then, the intruders forced a lounge window and stripped her house. They struck again 10 days later and another two times between June 1994 and April this year.

None of the $17,000 worth of property they took was insured.

Mrs Hill says the burglars have violated her life.

"You think you're in your own home and it's your own private place but it's become totally invaded ... It impacts on you in so many ways. Your whole body stiffens up, you become tense."

She has felt a burden to family and friends, relying on them for support each the burglars come back.

"I love my little home. I thought it would be ideal and I'd be happy, but just this total invasion. It really takes its toll on you."

Some victims have been burgled up to nine times.

Victim Support chief executive Steve Caldwell says that once a house has been burgled, it is more likely to be raided again because it is seen as an easy target.

Under the scheme, victims will be given advice and help with other measures, such as trimming hedges so that burglars are more readily spotted.