 | ON
THE BEAT April'09 |
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courtesy Eastern Courier and Howick Police
29-Apr-09
Looking at the recent crimes trend in our
area there is a reoccurring theme. It is Opportunity.
Many
burglaries and theft from cars can be prevented by removing a presented Opportunity.
Police receive many complaints from people where simple strategies
could have prevented crime.
Securing the windows of your house
when you are not home and removing valuables from your car is essential.
Research
has shown that many crimes are opportunistic and that offenders actively look
for these easy opportunities as they go about their day.
Conduct
a security check of your own home by thinking about the following points:
-
When you walk past your property from the street what does a criminal see? Can
they see an open bathroom window or the flat screen TV from the street?
-
If you locked yourself out of your own house, how easy would it be for you to
get in? Could you just lift up the ranch slider or use that ladder leaning on
the shed to climb in through the second level?
- Are
you in the habit of leaving garage doors open during the day?
-
Does your property have plenty of cover from the street so that burglars may go
undetected by your neighbours?
- Do you park your car
on the street and leave the GPS or laptop in it?
-Is
your work van with all your tools parked in the driveway overnight?
-
If you walk around your house and look in the windows what do you see? The
jewellery box sitting on the dresser, the laptop on the table, the digital camera
on the bench... I'm sure you get the idea.
- If you
walk around your house, can you see your neighbours, do you even know your neighbours?
If you do find something from the above, remember that it
is probably easily fixed. It is better to prevent crime from happening before
it happens.
To greatly reduce opportunities for criminals
and increase their risk of being caught your neighbours can help you.
To
find out more about setting up a neighbourhood support group in your area, visit
the website www.nsupport.co.nz
or contact your local Community Constable.
Constable
Paul Bimler, Pakuranga Community Constable
23-Apr-09
There is a magical age that everyone
gets to in their teenage life and that is when it's time to get your drivers license.
Back when I got mine it was far easier than today. I just
had to sit the theory test, learn to drive, pass the driving test with the MOT
Officer and that was that. Nowadays there are Learners, Restricted and then the
Full license, all taking around two years to complete.
On
endless occasions in my career I have stopped drivers who flaunt the restrictions
that come with the modern day license.
These restrictions
are put in place for a good reason but it appears that once people have the green
light to drive they will, at any cost.
Learner license drivers
MUST have a supervisor who has held a full license for two years sitting beside
them in the front passenger's seat.
They must also carry learner's
plates displaying them in the front and back windows. Failure to do so will cost
you $400.00 per offence and 25 Demerit points per offence.
A
restricted driver may drive alone during the day but is not allowed to drive without
a full licensed driver after 10pm and before 6am. Again a $400.00 instant fine
and 25 Demerits points.
A large number of restricted drivers
are caught carrying illegal passengers. The only passengers that are allowed to
be carried by a restricted licensed driver are the driver's children or their
spouse.
Teenagers who carry their brothers and sisters to
school are doing so illegally and can be fined $400.00 and 25 Demerit points.
All drivers should know the rules. Unfortunately many chose
to continue to break them.
They may think you can get away
with it but in the end you will always be caught. Demerit points can catch up
on you reasonably fast and once they reach 100 you lose your license for three
months.
Please abide by the restrictions of your license as
it's just not worth it when caught.
Keep safe.
Constable
Merv Hotter Community Constable Highland Park
17-Apr-09
While working last weekend I was shocked
to see the level of teenage drunkenness that is happening around or nearby teenage
entertainment venues.
The teenagers that I spoke to had been
given alcohol by friends, parents or older siblings. Some children were so drunk
that they required medical attention.
Police issued numerous
liquor infringement notices for offences involving possession and consuming alcohol
in a public place. These offences carry an instant $200 fine. Needless to say,
the alcohol was seized from the kids and destroyed.
What is
binge drinking and how often do teenagers do it? Binge drinking is basically consuming
a lot of alcohol in a short time - five or more standard drinks in one sitting.
Findings of a study by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New
Zealand:
How does binge drinking affect teenagers?
Nearly
a quarter have got into an argument or a fight
One
in six has got into trouble at home because od drinking
One
in eight has got into a sexual situation they weren't happy with
One
in 11 has got into trouble with the law because of drinking
Police
advice for parents is not to be naive. Don't drop your teenagers off at these
venus with alcohol. Don't give them alcohol thinking that teenagers are mature
enough to be responsible drinkers.
Next time it might be your child in
the back of the ambulance.
Constable Garry Boles, Botany Community Constable
08-Apr-09
This is the final of four columns in this short series
on teen dating abuse and asks what you can do if your son or daughter - or friend
- is in an abusive relationship.
To help adolescents form healthy relationships,
to prevent dating abuse before it starts, motivate your teenager to challenge
harmful beliefs about dating abuse and take steps to form respectful relationships.
(see the March 18 column on the 12 healthy qualitities of a healthy relationship.
If your daughter or son is exhibiting any signs mentioned in last weeks
column on recognizing an abusive relationship and they are dating and the change
is sudden or without explanation talk with them about the relationship.
Be
specific about why you are concerned. If they choose to talk to you listen quietly
and without judging. If they don't want to talk or discuss it with you, encourage
him or her to talk with another trusted adult and provide the names or people
or organisations that can help.
This could be a relative, a friend of the
family, a clergy member, teacher, Victim Support 0800-842-846 who are based at
the Howick Police station, or visit the Family Violence Advice & Support Service
at the Howick Information Centre, Monday – Friday 10am -1pm, no appointment necessary.
Let your child know that it is never okay for someone to hit them. Violence
is never part of a healthy dating relationship. They are more likely to be involved
in violent abusive relationships when they become adults.
If they do open
up to you focus your response on his or her needs and feelings and your concern
for their well-being. Do not criticise or attack the abusive partner. This may
seem odd and it can discourage communication. Your daughter or son will need to
make the decision to end the abusive relationship, not you.
Ask them what
you can do to help. Go as far as to encourage them to talk to a Counsellor who
specialises in Teen Dating Violence and continue to support them by being caring,
open and non judgmental.
Whether they agree to leave the abusive partner
or not it is important to encourage him or her to think about ways to stay safe.
For example, by making sure friends are around so that he or she is not alone
with the partner.
Sergeant Brett Woodmass, Domestic Violence Coordinator,
Counties Manukau
In
your area