S Wairarapa burglary and car thefts drop

There has been an influx of activities on offer for younger people to take part in. Photo / File

Burglary and car theft have dropped in South Wairarapa thanks to good policing and greater community resilience.

Acting senior sergeant and prevention manager for Wairarapa, Ian Osland, said trends showed burglaries, vehicle crime and damage reports had subsided in the area.

"By doing these regular reports it's quite clear that there has been a drop-off of offending in South Wairarapa and it's predominantly happening in Masterton," Mr Osland said.

He believed there had only been one burglary in Featherston in five weeks, Martinborough only one in over a month and Greytown had had about five, "which is a real anomaly".

"In comparison to Masterton from Carterton South, vehicle crime and burglaries has dropped off significantly, it's still happening but not to the level it was."

Mr Osland said this was down to good policing, where the right targets were being identified and held to account in court, and the growth of community resilience and support.

"A lot of the key players within those southern communities have been actively targeted or apprehended and put on conditions to restrict their movements, and some have moved out of the area."

Martinborough ward councillor Julie Riddell said since the recent establishment of two youth groups in Featherston, there had been an influx of activities on offer for younger people to take part in.

"We have noticed a drop in local vandalism, graffiti and crime.

"This is a very positive outcome," she said.