Police warn people to be security aware

BURGLED: A burglary at PGG Wrightson in Martinborough is one of eight burglaries to be reported in Wairarapa since Friday. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The theft of $4000 worth of gear from a Martinborough store is just one in a recent spate of burglaries that has police urging people to be more security conscious.

Other recent burglaries in the district included a lawnmower taken from a shed, a calf stolen from a pen and a Play Station 4 stolen from a Masterton house.

PGG Wrightson Martinborough store manager Nicola Naucukidi said burglars broke-in through a window on Thursday night, making off with a "fair amount" of clothing, including Canterbury branded clothing, shearing jeans, and moccasins.

Staff had been upset by the break-in, she said, and she had no idea why the store might have been targeted by the burglars.

Senior Sergeant Brett Simon said the burglary was one of eight to be reported to police since Friday.

Both residential and commercial burglaries had been reported throughout the district in Masterton, Martinborough and Carterton.

As weather improved and daylight hours increased, people should be more careful about security, Mr Simon said.

"There's more people out and about, so be more vigilant and keep sheds and houses locked and if people are out in the backyard keep the front door locked."

One Carterton man's laptop, charger and shoes were stolen from inside his house while he was in the backyard chopping firewood on Monday, he said.

"With this nice, fine, sunny weather, it's nice to leave the door open but if you can't keep an eye on the front door then it should be locked."

Leaving the door unlocked could also create problems when making an insurance claim, Mr Simon said.

Some burglaries had been committed at night and some during the day, and it was unlikely they were connected, Mr Simon said. "I can't see anything to indicate it's a pattern - some of them appear to be semi-opportunistic."

Police would be following up with forensic results as they continued to investigate, Mr Simon said.

On Monday a 19-year-old Masterton man was arrested in connection with a burglary at the Masterton Golf Club over the weekend, after a member of the public noticed the man behaving suspiciously in the Solway area, he said.