Southland Police remind rural community to be vigilant
Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley
With the increase in daylight hours and farmers tied up with calving, lambing and milking it is an opportune time for criminals to take advantage of any lapse in security on rural farms.
We would like to remind the community to be vigilant and look out for one another.
Please look out for your neighbours and your community, and let Police know if anything or anyone looks out of place.
We need the public to help us by being our eyes and ears.
Note down registration numbers of suspicious vehicles and descriptions of suspicious people, and let us know.
Burglar alarms and security cameras deter potential thieves and help Police identify criminals.
Police would also like to remind the rural community to keep all buildings and vehicles secure including farm buildings and machinery.
Keep in contact with your neighbours too and let each other know if you notice anything unusual.
Neighbourhood Support groups can be particularly useful for this purpose.
Importantly, we ask residents to not put themselves in danger or take the law into their own hands if confronted by offenders – but to instead contact Police.
Here are some important security tips:
Home Security
• Make your house and
garages a hard target for thieves – with alarms and sensor
lighting
• Ensure you lock your valuable items away and
lock your houses
• Photograph and register the details
and serial numbers of your important items in your
home.
You can register these on www.snap.org.nz
• Be wary of
posting too much information on social media about holiday
or travel plans
Vehicles
• Remove keys and lock
vehicles when not in use
• Do not leave valuable items
or equipment in vehicles overnight
Tools
• Quad
bikes, trailers and tools such as chainsaws are expensive to
replace, so reduce theft by taking extra security
measures
• Remove keys from unattended vehicles, secure
the quad bike with a padlock/anchor and chain the
bike
• Mark or engrave tools with your driver’s
licence number
Firearms
• Firearm ownership and
licensing comes with a responsibility for safety, not only
when out hunting but at home as well.
• Do not leave
firearms in vehicles
• Record serial
numbers
Fuel
• Ensure tanks are secure and locked to
restrict theft and tampering
• Install security
lighting in the area
Visit the NZ Police Rural Crime Prevention website www.police.govt.nz/rural for more useful advice.
If you see a crime taking place call 111 immediately.
Report any suspicious activity to Police.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
ENDS