End of the line for bogus road workers

Three men posing as construction workers while they stole phone cables in St Heliers were caught red-handed by police last week.

Residents called the police about 2pm on November 18, concerned people were illegally working on the roadside of St Heliers Bay Rd.

Eastern area acting tactical co-ordinator sergeant Tim Lockwood says when police arrived it was verified that the men were "bogus".

Three south Auckland men, aged 22, 23 and 37, were arrested and have been charged with theft. They are due to appear in the Auckland District Court on December 3.

Mr Lockwood commends the initiative shown by residents who alerted police.

"This is what we want to encourage - the community taking ownership for where they live and assisting police to reduce crime by being vigilant and notifying police of suspicious activity."

Chorus spokesman Robin Kelly says the company is "very happy" with the work by police to apprehend the offenders.

He says any damage to the network is costly, but the real cost is in the loss of phone service to consumers.

Mr Lockwood warns that warmer weather often brings an increase in this kind of crime. Criminals pose as road workers or offer home services as a way to check out if people are home and monitor their travel habits.

Investigations are continuing into an incident in Remuera on November 9 in which a phone cable was cut on Green Lane East, leaving hundreds of residents without a landline for up to 48 hours.

Somervell Presbyterian Church minister Brett Johnstone recalls seeing a light truck or van parked on the road side with orange cones out at about 6am that day.

"It didn't look particularly suspicious. All I heard is the noise of a machine operating. It was quite loud and I thought: 'Gosh, that's pretty loud for this time of the morning'."

- © Fairfax NZ News