Burglars likely to be active during holidays—police

Press, 26 December 1986, Page 3

Burglars likely to be active during holidays—police

Burglars are likely to be active during the Christmas holiday period, the Christchurch police have said.

The police have urged householders going on holiday to ensure that their homes are secure.

Detective Sergeant Russell Hawkes, head r of the police break squad, said that it was important for those on holiday to have a neighbour or friend regularly check their house. Many Neighbourhood Watch schemes had one such person who was a “minder” during the holi-

days. Detective Sergeant Hawkes said that those on holiday should arrange for someone to collect their mail and newspapers. Valuable items in the house should be put out of sight, so as not to “tempt” anyone looking in through windows. Some householders set burglar alarms and automatic lighting systems, which turned themselves on and off, and they had proved a deterrent. Detective Sergeant Hawkes said that it was

also important that people on holiday left a contact address with neighbours. This made it easier for the police to get in touch with householders if there problems while they were away.

“If people come across a burglary they should try to get good descriptions of vehicles and the people involved,” he said. “But they should not approach anyone involved, otherwise they could be hurt.”

He also warned people working in their gardens to make their homes

secure, as a guard against “stairdancer,” or opportunist, thieves. The police were aware of a number of such thieves in Christchurch who struck while householders were outside.

Business premises should also be made secure during the holiday period, said Detective Sergeant Hawkes.

He said that the owners of businesses should leave a contact number with the Christchurch Central Police Station in case the police needed to be in touch.