Police Notebook: Glenholme and Pukehangi burglary hot spots

Fourteen burglaries were reported across Rotorua over the past week.

The following incidents were reported to Rotorua police during the past few days:

Glenholme and Pukehangi burglary hot spots

Over the past week 14 burglaries were reported across Rotorua, four of which were in Glenholme and two in Pukehangi.

Rotorua police area prevention manager Inspector Brendon Keenan said those were the two main areas police were concentrating on.

"When we brought the thefts up on a map at our meeting this morning there were big concentrations in Glenholme."

He said for those "real problem areas" residents needed to be aware of the security in their home, ensure they were locking doors and looking into other methods of security.

"These are good areas for a neighbourhood watch group and for people just to take note of any suspicious activity and make sure they're reporting it."

Among the victims was the Challenge Service Station on Malfroy Rd.

At 11.30pm on Sunday offenders smashed a window to gain entry and began filling their bags with items.

They were unable to get into the cigarette cabinet, but took cash from the till.

On Friday an offender broke into a property on Reeve Rd, Owhata about 9.30pm.

A laptop, torch, keys for two cars, keys for the house, medication, a helmet, leathers, drill set, disk grinder, razor, hair cutter, $300, two axes, camping gear, sex toys and a coffin doll were all taken from the property.

In the early hours of Thursday morning a rental car was broken into outside a Bidois Rd property in Fairy Springs.

Items stolen included a pouch wallet, a New Zealand driver licence, Australian licence, New Zealand passport, duty free alcohol, A$800 and clothing.

Youth crime a whole community issue

Keenan said seven teenagers caught driving three allegedly stolen rental cars on Saturday morning was a good catch by the police.

"Juveniles seem to be a real problem at the moment and some of the offenders were previously known to us for other offences."

He said staff did well to safely pursue and stop the vehicles without any injury to the public.

"These youth behaviours are affecting all of us across the board and we need to focus on a whole community approach to solving them.

"As police we are there to catch them when they've done something wrong, but as a community we need to be stopping their behaviour before it gets here.

"We can't tackle these issues on our own and in incidents like this, it could have been much worse."

Outstanding stolen vehicles

A white 2004 Mazda Bounty, registration BZQ579, was stolen from a State Highway 5 address in Reporoa on Monday morning. A silver 1997 Nissan Laurel, registration CDJ165, was taken from a State Highway 5 address in Reporoa on Saturday last week.

A white 1997 Subaru Impreza, registration JJK796, was taken from Spinel Place in Pukehangi last Thursday.

A 2012 tandem trailer, registration T366W was taken from Devon St last Thursday.

An orange 2011 KTM motorcycle was taken from Riri St in Mangakakahi last Wednesday.

Any information on any of the above incidents can be given to Rotorua police (07) 349 9590 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.