This week I have some good news stories to share. The first started with a simple traffic stop. Some people think that traffic policing has a narrow focus, but this is not the case. All criminals use vehicles, both when offending and when transporting stolen property and drugs across the district. Traffic stops are a major source of intelligence and great opportunities to solve crime.
Between November and January, a Waipā business under renovation was burgled on three occasions. Copper wire and power tools were stolen. One day recently, a vehicle was seen by one of our strategic traffic constables driving straight through a stop sign. She pulled it over and spoke to the driver.
The driver was found to have been previously disqualified from driving, so she should not have been driving at all. A second officer recognised the vehicle as one seen on CCTV footage of the recent burglaries. The driver also matched the description of the alleged offender.
The vehicle was searched and some of the stolen property was recovered. The driver now faces charges not only for her driving but also three burglaries. It just goes to show the value of what seems a simple traffic stop in locating offenders and holding them to account.
Secondly, last weekend a woman stole items from Briscoes Cambridge. Eagle eyed staff had also seen two other people waiting with a suspicious car in the carpark outside. The female left the store with items concealed underneath her child’s stroller and left in the vehicle. The two other people had already walked away.
Police stopped the car, arrested the female and recovered the items taken from Briscoes. We also located in the car items stolen from a different retail outlet in Tirau. Moreover, the female was wanted for another previous theft from Hamilton. While dealing with her, a male previously seen with her car, was located walking a trolley load of stolen groceries away from Countdown and duly arrested. Quick reporting and great observations by staff at Briscoes resulted in four crimes being solved and the offenders being held to account. This shows how criminals rarely limit their offending to one business, so the earlier we hear about them and catch them, the better.
On a final note, in addition to the motorcycles mentioned last week, trailers have been hot on the shopping list for thieves. Please ensure your trailer is stored out of sight of the road if possible and if not, that it is secured with a wheel clamp and in a well lit area. CCTV cameras are also a good deterrent and provide great evidence in the event a thief manages to steal the trailer. Take a photo of your trailer and especially note any marks or damage which would help identify it if the registration plate were to have been removed.
