Cars broken into at Lewis Pass

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 1

Cars broken into at Lewis Pass

A few • days of tramping and other outdoor pursuits in the Lewis Pass region during the Christchurch Show Day holiday week-end were marred for six or seven parties, whose cars were broken into while they were away. The damage to the oars and thefts of money and property could amount to hundreds of dollars. The Culverden police were told on Saturday afternoon by a motorist who had travelled through the pass that six or seven cars had been broken into or had suffered damage. The car of one party, who came out of the bush yesterday afternoon, was broken into in spite of the vehicle having had a burglar alarm system fitted. Constable G. O. Fletcher, of Culverden, said last evening that the bonnet of the late-model car had been prised open and that the battery had been disconnected to silence the alarm. The Lewis Pass parking area is isolated apart from passing traffic. The nearest houses are at a sheep station, about 24km away, and at Springs Junction, about 10km away.

A window of the car with the burglar alarm was broken to gain entry and two wallets and a purse containing a total of about $240,' including some Swiss francs, were taken. The car’s tool kit and various papers were also taken.

Other cars had bonnets

forced open and quarter-light windows broken. Other damage or possible thefts had not yet been reported to the police by last evening. The party, from Christchurch, which reported the damage and thefts yesterday, had been tramping •over the first stages of the St James walkway, which traverses a circuit of mountain and valley country from the Lewis Pass summit, above Cannibal Gorge, over the Ada Pass and St Helen’s station country to the Lewis Pass highway at the Boyle River, about 16km from the starting point.

Constable Fletcher said that the vandalism probably occurred on Friday evening or Saturday morning. The incident emphasised the problems facing people

tramping into the mountain areas. They could no longer risk leaving their vehicles unattended for long periods.

Constable Fletcher said that although considerable inconvenience would be involved, trampers should arrange to be dropped off and picked up by family members or friends or should arrange for the safety of their vehicles. He said that public transport should be used where possible. A disconcerting aspect of the thefts and vandalism was that they had occurred soon after the opening of the St James walkway. The walkway was likely to be an attraction for many tramp- ■ ing groups but then vehicles would be vulnerable in the parking areas near the summit of the pass and at the Boyle River.