Northland District Headquarters
88 Cameron Street, Whangärei
Thursday March 13, 2014

Several people have come forward to claim property that was stolen by a syndicate of offenders involved in burglaries, stealing vehicles, and drugs.

Last week police located a large amount of stolen property and more than 300 cannabis plants when they searched five addresses around the Whangärei area.

The searches were part of an operation targeting a group believed to be involved in an organised burglary ring involving residential properties and vehicles.

Following the recovery of the stolen property Police called for the victims of recent burglaries to come forward and help identify the property.
Since then Police have managed to locate six burglary victims who have been able to identify their property.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dene Begbie says it's been pleasing for Police to be able to help these people get their items back.
Police are looking at the burglaries linked to this crime ring and will be contacting the victims of these burglaries.

There is still a large amount of property that has not been identified, including lifejackets, fishing rods, foreign currency, old New Zealand currency notes, distinctive coins, memory cards containing photos, and Asian Winter Games gold medals.

Mr Begbie says there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of burglaries around Whangärei since police carried out the operation targeting the dishonesty offending.

However, Mr Begbie says Police will not rest on their laurels and will continue to target people who choose to steal from others.

Last night two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested in relation to a burglary and five theft ex-car offences. These arrests followed on from an investigation into one of the theft ex-car offences.

Mr Begbie says the public can also help by reporting any suspicious activity, being part of a Neighbourhood Support Group and taking precautions to prevent burglary in the first place.

Here is some information to help reduce the risk of burglaries:

* Lock your doors, windows, sheds, garages, if necessary padlock farm sheds.
* Communicate with your neighbours: they can keep an eye on your address.
* If you're on holiday, arrange for someone to collect your mail and to mow lawns.
* Install sensor lights/alarms
* Remove keys from vehicles. Close access gates
* Note down suspicious registrations - often burglars will scope out an address first.
* Keep valuables out of sight.
* Record all serial numbers and photograph expensive or significant items.
The SNAP website (www.snap.org.nz) is a good way to record all your possessions.

Operation SNAP (Serial Number Action Partnership) is an initiative of the New Zealand Police, aiming to prevent New Zealand burglary and property offending, and make it harder for criminals to sell stolen goods in New Zealand. The initiative helps to protect property in a number of ways.

The SNAP website (http://www.snap.org.nz) allows you to enter and maintain details of all of your important possessions or assets. You can then access this asset list from anywhere, anytime. If your items are stolen, you can instantly retrieve your asset list details, and forward these on to the Police and your insurance company.

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