Police are urging the public to take extra precautions to keep their vehicles
safe after a recent increase in stolen vehicles reported across the Wairarapa
area.

In the past three months there have been 60 reports of vehicles being stolen,
says Wairarapa Area Prevention Manager Acting Senior Sergeant Gill Flower.

“We’re seeing a wide range of makes and models being stolen, with smaller
cars such as Mazda Demio and Toyota Aqua over-represented. The vehicles are
being used for joy-riding and sometimes to commit further offences and harm
in our community.”

Police are committed to recovering stolen vehicles and apprehending those
responsible, and so far 51 of the 60 stolen vehicles have been recovered by
Police.

However Police are seeking the help of vehicle owners to deter opportunistic
thieves.

We encourage people to take the following preventative measures to help keep
their vehicles safe:

Ensure the vehicle is locked and parked off the road, out of sight, or in
secure car parking where possible.
Consider a vehicle alarm or vehicle immobiliser.
Purchase a steering wheel lock.
In addition, please ensure valuables and credit cards are removed from
vehicles, particularly if cars are parked in the open.

We urge the community to contact Police if they have any information about
this ongoing offending.

Anyone that sees suspicious activity around vehicles should call Police on
111 if it’s happening now, or 105 after the fact.

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