Dinsdale burglars hit new community volunteer

Gary Schofield, who has only just returned home from the United States was burgled on Sunday evening, losing precious memories. Photo / Supplied

A Kiwi who recently returned from decades working in the United States was burgled on Sunday, a week after joining the Dinsdale steering committee to help the local community fight crime.

Gary Schofield, who lived and worked in Washington DC for 30 years and returned to his home town a couple of months ago, says he has noticed a community living shift in Hamilton.

"Look across the road. They are walling themselves off and making themselves a prisoner in their own home," Mr Schofield said.

"This is not our image. Our image as a country is what makes us New Zealand."

Mr Schofield returned to live in his late mother's house in Dinsdale. On Sunday, he went out for a couple of hours, returning half an hour after dusk.

He found a window had been forced open and the house burgled. A laptop, camera and US dollars had been stolen, but the most important thing stolen from Mr Schofield were his photos.

"They are valuable not only to me but to the community. I had disks in my computer which had photos of the area of Dinsdale 50 years ago."

Mr Schofield said he disturbed the burglars as they had to break down a garden fence to leave rather than exit the way Mr Schofield believed they entered, which was unfenced.

He believed that someone may have been observing the house before the burglary.

"It's a secure house with secure systems and I would say someone was observing and there was more than one person."

The biggest difference Mr Schofield has seen since he has been away is the disappearance of community policing.

He said that police should not be aggressively targeting drivers to give them tickets, but return to the days of supporting the community.

Mr Schofield said that the relationship between the community and the police is one of the most important aspects to building a community and helping troubled youth.

Looking at issues that were brought up at the community meeting where a steering committee was formed to address crime levels, he said there are consequences for youth breaking the law.

"There are enormous consequences for them - being an unhappy person stealing from your friends or relatives, or being in jail - that is one dreadful life."

But if you have a community system, then you can confide in your local officers as they are not going to put you in jail if you knew the child when growing up."

Mr Schofield wants communities to come together and provide assistance for those who are struggling with different aspects of their lives.

"Don't be driven by this commercial aspect of life. You will have people who will fall through the cracks and get desperate.

"They will break in for food, which was unheard of in Dinsdale when I grew up here."