City workers hit by crime

Andries Molijn is annoyed his car needs to be fixed after what is suspected to be young people climbing over the bonnet and roof of his car.

Police are blaming a group of "unruly" teens for a spike this week in disorder, thefts from cars, wilful damage and burglaries in the city.

The teens are suspected of running on top of parked cars, flooding businesses by turning on taps, running on roofs, fighting, tagging, stealing and smashing windows, according to central city workers, business owners and police.

Police say it's only the start of the school holidays and parents needed to "step up" now or risk being arrested.

Damage to Andrias Molijn's car from suspected rowdy teens.

Inspector Stuart Nightingale said police were issuing parents letters explaining their hard line approach, as reported in the Rotorua Daily Post a month ago. He said although no parents had yet been arrested, the warnings were not empty threats.

He said police were trying to get enough evidence to charge parents who continually allowed their children to be in the central city at night unsupervised.

"If these unruly young people continue to think they have a free reign over our city, they could well be spending Christmas and New Year in custody.

"We are also making child protection referrals to Child Youth and Family. It's a possibility they could find themselves losing custody of their children. Parents need to step up and own up."

Overnight on Monday, 12 vehicles were broken into in the central city. There were also complaints of wilful damage and burglaries, Mr Nightingale said.

Andries Molijn was gutted to find his car had been trampled, causing about $1500 worth of damage. The bonnet needs to be replaced and the roof panelbeated and repainted.

The 18-year-old said he had thankfully just got insurance.

"But it's a whole week's wages going on the excess to something that could be avoided."

Rocksolid Backpackers owner and operator Barry Miller said his vehicle was broken into and a jacket stolen. When he returned to the carpark on Tuesday morning, two more vehicles had been broken into.

Earlier in the day Mr Miller found taps had been turned on in the alleyways next to his premises. Police told him they had been having trouble with groups of teens.

"I think they should have to come to my backpackers and clean up the mess, sweep some floors and clean some toilets."

Another central city worker, who didn't want to be identified, said a group of up to 30 young people aged about 8 to 18 congregated near her workplace, fighting and causing damage. Her car was tagged and a building nearby had graffiti on it.

"These kids are driving me nuts. We have had customers and staff bonnets and roofs getting damaged," she said.

"I've started taking my iPad out and taking photos of them but then I worry about my own safety."

Mr Nightingale urged everyone to call police if they saw crimes being committed.

"This is an area of frustration for police and something the public and shop owners should not have to put up with ... I think the public would be shocked at what happens (with teens in the central city) while most of us are tucked up in bed."

- Information can be passed on to 0800 CRIMESTOPPERS.