ON THE BEAT June'09

courtesy Eastern Courier and Howick Police

25-Jun-09

Alcohol is an easily accessed, legally available, socially acceptable product and it is easy to forget it is a depressant drug that can have serious side effects.

Small amounts of alcohol can be social and fun.

Large amounts can be toxic and deadly.

The earlier a young person starts heavy drinking, the greater the chance of problems later and studies show that young people are increasingly setting out to get drunk, and at a younger age.

Teenagers are more susceptible to harm when socialising with alcohol.

With the majority of serious youth offending we deal with in this area, alcohol use is a predominant factor.

Even with the best parents in the world, young people can still get into trouble.

It is critical for parents of teenagers to set limits, boundaries and consequences.

I have seen a number of times this year, parents using alcohol and cigarettes as some sort of reward for acceptable behaviour.

This is misguided and a recipe for disaster.

And it closely follows on to the heels of the myth that "if I don't supply them with booze, they're just going to get from their mates anyway".

The majority of liquor supplied to minors is done so by older family members - brother, sisters, parents.

Don't get 'sucked in' by your teenagers.

Think back to when you were that age and how flexible you were with the truth to your mum and dad.

Teenagers today face enormous pressure to conform to drinking behaviour that is in no way normal or healthy.

It again is left to the parents to live life that is a good example to your children, and by enforcing boundaries.

Constable Paul Devane, Youth Aid Officer, Howick

17-Jun-09

Elderly people aren't at any greater risk of crime than any other age group.

However, they are often more concerned and feel more vulnerable.

Here are some tips on what you can do to stay safe:

 

-	Never let strangers into your home. Use your security door, chain, spy-hole or talk to them through the door. Always ask for identification - if you don't have a security door feature, ask them to show their card at the nearest window. If you don't have a security door or chain, invest in one.
-	Keep your doors locked when you are home and always shut your windows when you go out - even if they are fitted with security latches
-	Do not keep large amounts of money in the house and always keep your cheque book and credit cards in separate places
-	Never give out personal information such as credit card or eftpos PIN number or bank account details to people who phone you. Remember, your bank will never telephone you to ask these details.
-	If you receive a a nuisance phone call or are being pressured by a telemarketer, your best protection is to hang up.
-	Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye out for them. You will find they will keep an eye out for you too

A good way of meeting your neighbours is by joining your local Neighbourhood Support group. Contact the police to find out if there is a group in your street.

For those with elderly parents, now is the time to think about what measures you can take to ensure they feel safe and less vulnerable to crime.

A good idea is to assist them with home safety measures such as security doors and locks, or ensuring their money is protected, for example that credit cards and eftpos cards are safe and PIN numbers not recorded.

For information on services for elderly people, contact Age Concern on 279-4331.

For crime prevention advice, contact the police on 261-1300.

Constable Telesia Neilson, Meadowlands Community Constable

10-Jun-09

Apart from your home, your car is probably your most valuable possession and possibly the most vulnerable.

Thousands of cars are stolen every year, or broken into and property taken.

Some vehicles are never recovered, and those which are recovered have often been damaged by thieves and left undriveable.

Motor vehicle crime is a serious problem and, apart from the general inconvenience or hire costs for a replacement vehicle until insurance payout, the loss can be a traumatic experience for the owner.

Vehicle crime affects the whole community - criminals have been known to steal motor cars to commit serious offences.

Cars can be protected by the anti-theft devices which slow down or foil thieves.

The more time a criminal spends attempting to steal a vehicle increases the likelihood of discovery and apprehension.

These are some of the different types of anti-theft devices that can be fitted to your vehicle: Ignition cut-out switch or ignition shield, fuel cut-out switch, battery isolator, steering wheel loc, hand brake lock, transmission lock, wheel lock, or a vehicle alarm system.

Alarm system are one of the more popular deterrent systems with different types available, ranging from glass-break detectors to ultrasonic motion sensors.

For maximum benefit, there should be instantaneous protection of all doors, bonnet, boot and interior.

It is best to have alarms professionally installed, particularly to avoid damaging vehicles with computer controlled systems.

If you are unfortunate enough to have your car stolen, it should be reported to the Police immediately and the registration number provided.

Vehicle owners, as members of the community, can also participate in making other motorist's vehicles more secure by being alert to any suspicious activity and reporting it promptly to the Police by calling 111.

Keep Safe

Constable Merv Hotter, Community Constable Highland Park

03-Jun-09

I'm sure most of you feel the same as me and regard your house as your castle. We like our family to feel safe and secure within its walls.

Unfortunately there is a minority of people who seem to delight in making other peoples lives uncomfortable at best and a misery at worst. If you have a neighbour like this you can relate to what I am saying.

If you are one of the unfortunate people who has a neighbour such as this - someone who is harassing or intimidating you, here are some suggestions I would like you to consider:

1. Try to resolve any differences amicably. Become knowledgeable on any relevant council bylaws that may affect your dispute. Councils often have brochures relating to common neighbourhood dispute issues. An independent mediator may help as well.
2. Join and be active in your Neighbour Support group. You may find that other neighbours are experiencing the same problems - often with the same person.
3. Keep a detailed and accurate log of the offending including times, dates and notes of the circumstances. Sometimes, where evidence is needed to support your claims, an independent company could be employed to set up CCTV cameras.
4. Police will deal with criminal matters but there is another option of going to your lawyer and taking civil action against your neighbour. The Citizens Advice Bureau has a free lawyer system and they also have information regarding council bylaws.
5. If your fear or suffer assault or serious property damage report this to the police immediately. Ask for the event number and record this number in your log for further reference. You may be required to come to the Police station to make a statement.

We would all like to live within our castles in a harmonious neighbourhood but unfortunately this is not always the reality.

In any dispute it helps if your behaviour is far better than theirs - don't lower yourself to their bad behaviour and manners. Take the high road not the low road.

Constable Garry Boles, Botany Community Constable

We would like to acknowledge support for this website from:
Key Service Ltd