Waihi main street. The Waihi community has been urged to speak out against methamphetamine. Photo/Google
Waihi main street. The Waihi community has been urged to speak out against methamphetamine. Photo/Google
The Waihi community has been urged to "end the code of silence" on methamphetamine after a spate of crime in the area.
Police told a public meeting speaking out was the way to help keep the community safer.
"Thieves are driven by methamphetamine and people from our community will buy that stuff for bargain. That needs to be addressed too," acting sergeant Sterling Huett said.
"These guys are absolutely desperate to get their hands on anything they can."
The issue was raised after some residents spoke of suspicious activity occurring in the area.
Added to the string of activity was the robbery of Henry Pere, 61, who died last Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm on a central street in the town.
Police are now hunting for a Hawke's Bay couple who attempted to help Pere before allegedly swiping his wallet and taking off. There was already a warrant out for the man and woman's arrest.
Police say they know where P houses are in the area but evidence was hard to obtain if locals didn't talk.
Sergeant John Hill, of Thames, says it is a community problem.
"A lot of people do not want to go to the police station because they might feel unsafe for themselves or their families.
"But the community knows the places where the drugs are sold, people know where the stolen gear is going ... So if they don't want to talk to police, they can call Crime Stoppers as it is anonymous."
Mr Hill says to watch out for suspicious activity in the neighbourhood, such a the flow of traffic in and out of a property.
"It might just be people seeing many cars coming up a driveway within a short space of time, like 20 minutes. "What are they doing? What is going on? Record the number plate, ring us and/or crime stoppers."
A similar public meeting was held previously in Thames, and Sergeant Hill says Waihi is facing the same issues.
Police say they are putting strategies in place to deal with meth users.
"We are talking low-level users into treatment, as people are obviously committing crime to fuel an addiction. So it is an opportunity to intervene and prevent them to commit these offences.
"The accessibility of treatments in Waihi is something that could be looked at. "Some people could come together to look at this issues and bring solution to the table instead of just looking at the problem."
