Burglary victims slam police 'dial 111' advice

By NAOMI LARKIN

Burglary victims are angry at police advice to dial 111 if they want officers to respond to their breakins.

They say the suggestion is an abuse of the number, which should be used for "dire emergencies" only.

Their protests follow Police Minister George Hawkins' pledge that police will respond to burglaries within 24 hours. He says the tough new stand on burglaries will be achieved by police "thinking smarter, working smarter."

But Heidi Davenport, whose house in West Harbour, West Auckland, has been burgled four times in 18 months, is furious at the response to her latest breakin.

A visitor who disturbed the four intruders immediately rang Henderson police with the registration of the thieves' car and the direction they were headed. Yet it was six days before an officer visited.

Mrs Davenport was incensed at being told that, had the visitor dialled 111, police would have given the call "extreme priority."

Another West Auckland homeowner, who did not wish to be named, had been burgled three times but had to call 111 before an officer came to her house. "It should be used for dire emergencies. I do not consider a burglary an emergency."

The head of the police northern communications centre, Superintendent Athol Soper, said people should dial 111 if in danger, if burglars were on the property or if the crime had just been committed.

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Battling burglary - a Herald series

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Contact our reporters:
Naomi Larkin, Scott Inglis