Empty homes tempting burglars

BY RANDALL WALKER

Kapiti was hit hard by burglars last week, with police saying criminals appeared to be making the most of homes being vacated by holidaymakers.

About 16 burglaries were reported to Kapiti police over the 10 days to Tuesday. Three cars were also stolen and a further five were broken into over the weekend.

Senior sergeant Alasdair Macmillan said the number was well above normal and of major concern.

"Despite security measures taken by people, these offenders are still getting in. All but one of these [burglaries] they have had to force entry."

Several of the burglaries were to holiday homes or homes where the occupants were away on holiday, he said.

A .270 rifle and a box of ammunition, and thousands of dollars worth of electrical gear was stolen from a Paraparaumu house, after its front door was forced some time between 8.30am and 2pm on Tuesday. A 42-inch television, four digital cameras, two laptops, an Xbox and games, video camera, watch and DVDs were stolen.

Mr Macmillan said the rifle was not usually kept at the house and did not appear to have been locked up.

On Sunday, a $900 mountain bike was stolen from a Gray Ave garage at about 1.30am. The bike was later recovered.

A 17-year-old Kapiti man was charged with burglary and possession of a knife and a 16-year-old youth was referred to youth aid.

Police had also arrested and charged an 18-year-old man with the burglary of a Paekakariki Hill Rd property on January 7.

Between January 24 and Sunday homes were burgled in Hona St and Hemara St, Waikanae Beach, Ruahine St and Ngaio Rd, Paraparaumu and Leinster Ave, Raumati South.

Mr Macmillan said it appeared alcohol was a main target, and in some cases valuable items had been left behind.

A Husqvarna ride-on lawnmower and about a dozen bottles of wine were stolen from a Marine Pde garage after a window was jimmied some time between January 25 and Saturday.

On Saturday night, the garage of a Seaview Rd home was broken into and a set of speakers and a tool box taken from a van.

Commercial premises were also hit.

In the early hours of Friday morning, someone cut a chain and forced the door of a shed at Hirepool in Ihakara St, taking several 40-litre containers of petrol and diesel.

On Friday night, burglars broke into Coastlands Mall by undoing the zips of the canvas food court walls, then tagged the inside and outside of the area and threw chairs around and into the stream.

Two of the three cars stolen had been recovered. Police were seeking a red Mitsubishi V3000, registration ZO7687, stolen from Seaview Rd, overnight on Saturday.

Over the weekend, thieves broke into cars at the railway station car park, and Parakai St and Arawhata Rd in Paraparaumu, stealing a driver's licence, skateboard, cellphone, wallet, $70, money cards, memory sticks, a stereo and CDs.

Police were also investigating a complaint from a woman who believed a thief burgled her car between 11.45am and 12 noon, on Saturday, on Beach Rd, Paekakariki. Mr Macmillan said the woman stopped off at Finns restaurant briefly and drove home, where she found her camera, Samsung cellphone, wallet, credit cards, driver's licence and $100 cash were missing.

- Kapiti Observer