Crime drops off at council homes

Rawhiti flats resident David Manners no longer sleeps in his car now that extra security measures have been installed. Photo / Stephen Parker

David Manners is sleeping easier now that extra security measures have been installed at Rawhiti flats.

The 68-year-old pensioner said last month the Rotorua Lakes Council-owned flats in Miller St were "under siege" after a spate of burglaries.

Mr Manners had been sleeping in his car to prevent it from being stolen after the theft of his neighbour's car. Tools had also been taken from Mr Manner's shed and vegetables from his garden, with other residents losing a mower and a weed eater. A handbag was stolen from a flat while the owner was asleep. Police said they noticed a spate of offending in Glenholme and extra patrols had been placed in the area.

Now things had quietened down, with fewer suspicious people walking through the flats as a result of additional lighting, Mr Manners said.

"Since the paper came out, Unison came and fixed the street light straightaway. It was out for months.

"A [motion-sensor] security light has been installed at the back of mine and my neighbour's place and that works well. I don't sleep in the car anymore, I go to bed early now."

The Rotorua Lakes Council said they notified police and City Safe Guardians when they were alerted to the burglaries and disturbances. Staff also visited residents to discuss their concerns and had contacted Unison to fix the light.

"The response was good, it was surprising because I shouldn't have to go public like this, I've made myself a scapegoat," Mr Manners said.

While crime at the flats had decreased, it wasn't completely wiped out.

"Last night, the police were rung because one of the neighbours here saw someone trying to break in to another neighbour's house.

"For me, the biggest loss is my tools," the former Rotorua Boys' High School woodwork teacher said.

"Stealing a tradesmen's tools, some of them I bought in 1962, is like ripping his arm off. I do a lot of things [voluntarily] like the neighbour needed a shelf up and bits and pieces like that but I've got nothing to use now."

Rotorua police crime prevention manager Inspector Stuart Nightingale said daily patrolling continued.

"We have noticed a drop-off in certain offending - burglaries, theft of cars, unlawful taking.

"It is still happening periodically but we are making good progress in that regard.

"We are really keen to hear from the public of any suspicious people wandering around their property late night, early hours of the morning. Ring police straightaway.

"If something seems wrong, it probably is wrong, so call us."