KEY POINTS:
Opposition leader John Key last night blamed drug users for burgling his luxury Parnell home in a lightning raid.
He told the Herald a "large amount" of his wife Bronagh's jewellery had been snatched from their bedroom and two of his watches were taken but he hadn't tallied how much the items were worth.
Here is the latest selection of Your Stories:
Mama Mia (Auckland)
Have been burgled far too many times to be true. These scumbags who cannot keep their fingers off other peoples stuff and belongings should sure as heck be lock up for a long time. Maybe jails aren't all that good for most people but to keep these leeches off the streets for a few years will sure make it safer for you and me. While these scumbags are locked up well and good it would maybe also serve them well to be confronted with a few of their rather unfortunate victims, in order to see (if they have any brains left at all) how much mental damage they have also caused. If any of those burglars have just a few brain cells intact there is a faint possibility they might find another occupation in the future. So, lock them up and give them time to rethink their filthy future.
Walker
Yes, we were burgled just over 10 years ago, just before our wedding. I felt scared, sad and angry. Our wedding tapes and much preparation had been taken and they used our toothbrushes - gross!
Charlotte (Auckland)
Got broken into twice in a week earlier in the year in a 'good area' with a house alarm. Police not particularly interested. Suspected young kids. At the end of the day if they want to get in bad enough they will find a way. Invasion of privacy is the worst - needless to say don't live there anymore!
Noel (Auckland)
It should have been Madam Clark, Mr Scrooge or any one of the other donkeys running this country, because the crime rate in NZ is a direct outcome of their socialist and criminal friendly government. They are the ones who should be victims so they know what the decent folks of the country have to put up with because of their policies.
Matthew Pilott
Arron, responding to Ian, claims that the thieves came from "disadvantaged" families, and were simply implementing Labour policy (steal from rich, give to poor). Being a bit judgemental are we Arron? You're probably itching to say that the thieves were brown as well, and that the PC government panders to minorities just like it does to the poor, but you can't say that in public right? Typical conservative: taxation is theft. Why don't you try somewhere what doesn't have taxation, such as Sudan, or Somalia, and tell me how you got on getting rich there, since you can't in New Zealand. I'm no fan of John Key but I wouldn't wish a burglary on anyone - even Arron.
Madarab
As the general election comes closer we will no doubt find out if the burglars got what they were after at John Keys home when someone announces it in parliament as happened with the Don Brash emails.
Nat
Interest rates are the price of money - when money is plentiful rates go down. Inflation is more money chasing the same amount of goods, so more money = lower rates = higher inflation. The RBNZ monitors the CPI to see if they are injecting the appropriate amount of money into the banking system. Turning control of the money supply over to politicians risks disaster, as the temptation to print money can be overpowering (e.g. check out the current situation in Zimbabwe). I sincerely hope Dr Cullen leaves the RBNZ alone.
Abe
Having left NZ to live in Asia for the last 10 years, it is sad to see the way this country continues to ruin its "perceived" safe image. The answer is simple, NZ is too "PC". We run this country for the minority, not the majority. We got burgled 3 times in 2 years in NZ, and not once in 8 years in Singapore. In Singapore, unless you are a criminal, you have no problem living a very safe and secure life. If you are a criminal, you feel the heavy hand of the law (caning, hanging, poor prison conditions etc.). Don't blame the police, blame the criminal justice system. How many times have you felt pissed off at work, because the big boss has no idea how to run the business effectively - its the way this country is structured to operate, not the front-line staff that are the problem.
Jamie
I lived in Auckland again after leaving there when I was 10 to live in Brisbane for 17 years.I lived in Auckland for 2 years, and was burgled once, never ever being burgled in Brisbane Australia. They must have known we were moving into a housing NZ house, as workers had worked on it for a few weeks before we moved in. The night we moved the small stuff in is when they took all valuable paper work, photos, kids christmas presents etc, we lost a photo album of family we can never replace because it was easy access as it was in suitcases. When we called the police, they took two days to come to do finger printing, that is all they did! The person/people responsible were never caught. I found the service to be very inadequate. I now live in Brisbane Australia again, as I feel so insecure in Auckland, since I was also stalked there too, and it took the police over two hours to attend when the man was trying to break into my house.
Ian Morine
Perhaps you are all right. I have been nothing less than a vindictive little man. National are clearly the obvious choice for taking this country ahead rather than Labour's government which seems to focus on the creation of a welfare dependant country. I sincerely apologise.
Dominic (Wellington)
None of the drug users I know would be caught dead in the sort of nouveau riche jewellery that Key would wear.
Gangs in the manager
I've been burgled too many times by gangs. They come and take everything. The cops dont do anything. I dont care smash anybody up there, just put me though. John Key is up the manager and he still got robbed. Goes to show how gangs roll. Do it. In there.
PDP AKL
I've been burgled 3 times and have yet to see a cop. I really can't understand why I pay so much in tax and get nothing for it.
Bondy
Why is he blaming drug users for this? Cause all drug users are thieves? I think this comment says a lot about how Mr Keys would react to tough situations. Discriminate and pass the blame!
Peter (Henderson)
As one of the many who experience burglary, I want somebody to tell me if anything should be done or should we just live with it. My house at Henderson was broken into for two time during my 3 years stay. My car was broken into during midnight while we were sleeping. I felt we were constantly watched by someone. Police came each time after my house was turned upside down, they were very honest with me as they told me it was very unlikely they can catch the culprit and even if they did they might not be able to do anything since most of the culprits were underaged minors. I felt I was not protected and I can not protect myself(since we are not allowed use force to drive them out). I felt bit lost as my assumed logical mind can not figure out it any more.
Jon (Auckland)
Previously we had 4 cars broken into outside our house. We called the police, who really weren't interested, and told us that there's just way too much crime for them to investigate every single burglary or break-in. Several days later I heard sirens of several police cars and a helicopter overhead, the noise carried on for about 20 minutes before they finally managed to corner their suspect and bring him to a stop in our street. The poor kid who was trying to ride his new mini-Harley home on the pavement without a helmet. Did they really think it was worthwhile wasting all those resources on some kid who was just trying to get his new bike home? If not him, then they're very quick to jump on people going a few km's over the speed limit, but the police really aren't interested in real criminals. I have lost all respect for the police because of this attitude. They treat normal people like criminals, and ignore the real criminals. Typical.
BigSmall
I lived in Africa-Zimbabwe for 28 years and was burgled once. The police came to my house immediately. I lived in New Zealand for 5 years and was burgled five times. The police came once 3 days later due to backlog! New Zealand is safe - yeah right! This is a national problem which needs to be addressed immediately. Tougher sentences, Trespassing laws etc.
Richard
"I suspect they were getting stuff to sell for money for drugs - that's what a lot of burglars would do. It's a real problem in New Zealand," says John Key. Yes, a problem of his (and other prohibitionists) own making. Legalise P and the problem would vanish overnight. If P were legalised, a week's supply of P would cost no more than a week's supply of Panadol, and a P addict could walk into a pharmacy with a prescription instead of ramming into a pharmacy with a truck.
Hyperborean
Ironic that they call it 'taxing'.
Saf (Auckland)
I've had my car stolen! And the police did absolutely nothing. But I expected it because after all I pay 1/3 of my salary so we can have more criminals in the police force right? And I guess I deserved to have it stolen right because why should it belong to me? After all I only paid for it. Unbelievable this is the state the country is in now. We have an idiot leading the country and incompetent mayors' running the councils.
Auckland
I had my car broken into and stripped of my rather expensive sound gear, I still wont park on the top floor of the St Lukes parking lot. And to be rather blunt I am appalled by the comments on here that John key deserved to be robbed because he didn't lock up some valuable jewelry, firstly the idea that its the victims fault in any way is pathetically stupid, and its that kind of attitude which gives criminals some kind of justification that can make them more bold. Secondly it is likely that he had far more important things in the safe than mere jewelery, such as insurance papers, wills, keys etc.
Preyesh (Akld)
No-one in NZ deserves to be burgled. The valuables were clearly inside Mr. Key's own secured home. No-one in NZ has the right to invade another person's private property space and take things that are not theirs. Its called theft in case Ian forgot.
Arron
Of course Ian Morine and other socialists would be happy over Key being robbed. According to the Clark/Cullen world view Key deserved to lose his possessions, as the thieves don't have as much as he has. How dare he expect to keep what he has earned after slaving his guts out to get where he is today? (of course he earned his fortune overseas, not likely anyone can succeed in NZ). Doesn't he know that there are poor unfortunates out there that don't know where their next packet of cigarettes or bucket of KFC is coming from? Doesn't he know that the thieves came from disadvantaged families and therefore cannot be punished? The thieves are only implementing Labour policy. If you can't be bothered working to get what you want just take it from someone else who has.
Ian Morine
Why would anyone go away from their home for any length of time and leave valuables such as jewellery out (when there is a secure safe available in the home). Completely illogical, I would have thought. But worse than that, is admitting to the media that they failed to secure their valuables because they were too lazy and couldn't be bothered. And that he doesn't know what the hell to do about crime as he admitted on television this morning, especially when you want to be NZ's next PM. It certainly does not conger up someone who is at the top of their game. Does John Key realise just how busy he will be "if" he becomes PM - he will not have time to be "lazy". Perhaps this is the first "Walking the plank" moment for John Key as the Nats leader and the long honeymoon is coming to an end?
Jess (akl)
I can not understand why people are saying he deserved to be burgled because he didn't put some stuff in a safe. Regardless of who the person is show some empathy. I am not a Key fan but it still sucks to be robbed let alone be told by pathetic members of the public that its his own fault. Grow up and just so everyone knows you can buy a safe from the warehouse for $50 is that going to hold everything that you consider valubale? Show some human emotions people.
Cynical (Christchurch)
Burglars? How does Key know it wasn't the SIS? They did it to that Choudry fellow.
Albert
Well, some writers said it is John Key's fault for not putting his valuables in the safe. I think they are missing the point, even if you didn't lock your front door when you're out (not left open), this should not have happened. in the 80s, if you, leave your car unlock in the car park and go away for a few hours, your car will still be intact when you are back. Why is it that is was safe in the 80s and unsafe today? Is it the soft approach to criminals? No caning at school? Illegal to smack you kids? Cops rather spend time on traffic offenders (much easier to proof you are working, I think)? 5-star prisons? Prisoners can now sue for monetary compensation for the slightest contact? Too much "human rights"? Plenty of free lunches from tax-payers for beneficiaries?
What I am trying to say is simply this, even if I or you for that matter, leaves the car door open with a laptop on the seat, it does not give anybody the right to take it away - that's theft, a crime, and should be punishable under law, and these criminals should also be caned on top of their prisons sentences with no TV, games, computer access and underfloor heating.
Marcus (Auckland)
Ian Morine, or is it Moron? Because Mr key didn't bother (not "couldn't be bothered" as you stated) to put his valuables in his safe, you think he deserves to be burgled? Idiotic response if you ask me. I suppose you think people that walk down Queen St late at night deserve to be mugged and women walking alone deserve to be raped? And you're worried about a successful, charismatic man being our PM? I worry about people like you having the ability to vote!
Bruce
I don't know anyone who has not been burgled.
Margot
Ian Morine sounds like a nasty, bitter and twisted person. No one - including John Key deserves to have their home invaded and belongings stolen. I have been burgled twice - and I'm still waiting for the police to show up for the 2ND burglary (it happened in 1997). It's gut wrenching! The reason burglary is so common is the penalties imposed by the courts are so incredibly light why? Also the chances of being caught are tiny as police have low resources (and I suspect little interest) for catching the low lifes doing this. I firmly believe in hard labour for the rats doing this and not these family conferences at maraes. What a load of hui!
Burglars
Perhaps we should not be too concerned about burglars while thousands of us are being either killed or injured each year by road vehicles. The police should never waste time attending burglary sites when they could be out apprehending idiot drivers.
Paul H
It really says a lot about our society (and individuals) when someone "deserves" to be burgled because they didn't put something in a safe. I've been burgled a number of times, I guess it's my fault for not having bars on my windows. Funny, I thought it was the criminals that were at fault.
Dee (Auckland)
What happened with Mr Key is a common problem every New Zealander faces these days. Thanks to the softer attitude of the law and lack of willingness of our political system to come hard on these petty criminals who are actually the serious criminals in the making. In my opinion these things rather help these criminal do it again and again and get away without any serious punishment. It add to the misery of a law abiding citizen who beside going through all the day to day hassle to earn his/her livelihood also has to put up with the long lasting effects of loss of some personal valuables. My house was burgled last year. By coincidence I was able to recover some of the stolen good with the help of one of the relative of the burglars but was totally unsatisfied with the time taken by the police to come to the scene and action from CYF (burglars being underage).
Jersey (Mt. Albert)
We got burgled about 1.5 years ago in the month of December. We only found out about it when we came home at 8pm. We called the police who said there is nothing they can do at that moment, and advise me not to touch the things that may have been touched by the burglars until investigation can be done. When asked when it can be done, they give me a two weeks time! The reason was there were too many burglaries, around 36 in the area to be exact.We felt very unsafe, especially the fact that the burglars maybe knowing that there was nothing done on his 'work'. Wouldn't that kind of encouraging them? After a few phone calls and a few days, someone in Avondale Police Station understood my view and sent an investigator. Of course there was nothing to be found anymore as three or four days have passed since. Wouldn't it be more sensible to send a patrol to investigate at the time it gets reported? Something has to be done on these burglars. It's not petty crime. The effects still haunts us and we still wake up and cringe in the middle of the night when we hear the slightest noise.
Victims (Blockhouse bay)
It's not surprising that Mr. Key house was burgled. Because the present law, incompetence of police force& their negligence towards this crime are harbouring the burglaries in Auckland. My house was burgled in day time on saturday but the police came on Monday only. According to them burglary is not a crime here in Auckland because there are 500 or more burglaries in auckland per week. And the present law is very kind enough to burglary.It"s time for politicians and the police force to open their eyes and to control these crimes before having any big misery in any family.
Poohbear (Papatoetoe)
It is sad what happened to Mr Keys home, and for every other person affected by this problem. We all know the Government has sad if an intruder comes into your house, you cannot use force on them or you will be put up on charges. But the pure fact is, why should we lose what we worked hard to buy and keep? The rule should allow us to use what ever means possible to protect our property and our family, it is by the way our own home, we look at it being our safe haven that we can go to and relax. Lets stop being PC correct and give into the burglars and their raid on our homes to feed there drug habits. Why don't they just go out there and get a real job for once and leave us tax paying New Zealanders alone?
Ian Morine
If John Key "can't be bothered" putting his valuables away in his security safe at home (I wish I could afford a safe at home), before he went on holiday, then perhaps he deserves what happens next ! I wonder about John Key sometimes, and this makes me wonder even more - what would he be like as PM, if he "can't be bothered" to secure his own valuables before leaving home for a holiday - would you put NZ's future in this man's hands ? Yet another example of why I certainly wouldn't even consider him as an appropriate candidate for PM!
Julie
According to prime news on tuesday night, john key has a safe in his house, but didn't bother to lock his valuables in it prior to leaving on holiday. Yet this man thinks he is fit to look after the country! And how is it that this embarrassing admission did not find its way into your article today?
