Police encouraged by alerts over burglars

Police say Rotorua residents are sick of burglars in their community, as more people are alert to suspicious behaviour.

Inspector Ed Van Den Broek, of the Rotorua police, said reported burglaries during the holiday period had been low comparedwith previous years.

He said police worked hard to reduce burglaries because they were aware of the impact they had on victims. He said police were encouraged by the number of people who contacted them about suspicious activity.

"This has increased significantly and shows that people are sick of burglars in our community," Mr Van Den Broek said.

"The message we ask from the community is simple: If you see something suspicious, don't hesitate to call the police on 111. If you are unsure if it is suspicious or not, it probably is and we still want to know about it."

Overall, Mr Van Den Broek said there had been fewer victims of crime than in previous years, which was pleasing, but urged people to continue to be safe.

"We still urge people to have a common sense approach to keeping themselves and their properties safe."

Police have been taking a lot of preventive measures to reduce crime, including beat patrols, road policing as well as attending major events.

Family violence incidents usually increase between October and January, but with the help of public awareness campaigns, more people are reporting incidents.

"This is a positive development as it indicates that communities are starting to take a stand against family violence.

"However there is a great deal of work still to be done."

For advice on keeping yourself and your property safe, visit www.police.govt.nz/safety.