Pensioner forced to sleep in car for fear of theft

Residents of Rawhiti flats David Manners (front) with neighbour Richard Han have had enough of being victims of burglaries at night. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua pensioner says he and his neighbours are "under siege", with some wanting to take matters into their own hands following a spate of burglaries at their flats.

David Manners, a resident of Rawhiti flats on Miller St, Glenholme, has been sleeping in his car for fear it may get stolen.

The 68-year-old said there had been an increase in burglaries at the Rotorua Lakes Council-owned flats over the past month. Rotorua police confirm there has been a spate of offending in the suburb and additional patrols have been placed in the area.

"They're young people in hoodies, we see them around nearly every second day," Mr Manners said.

"I've had tools taken from my shed, silverbeet from my garden, the guy down the road lost a mower and weed eater. There's an old lady across the road dying of cancer, they took her bag, emptied it out - while she was home asleep."

His neighbour Richard Han, 63, had his car stolen two weeks ago.

"My car's gone, they smashed the window and smashed the ignition. It was there when I got up at 1.30 in the morning and the next thing, when I looked out the window at 6.30, there was only grass there," Mr Han said.

Mr Manners said his car ignition had also been smashed.

"It got ready for the taking, that's why I've got my sleeping bag, I sleep in the car, I'll go with them if they take it. I have a trip wire with a box of empty cans attached to wake me up."

Some residents wanted to take matters into their own hands, Mr Manners said.

"I know one person who has a machete, but that's stupid, they'll just take it off him and use it back on him. We're too old for that. Some [residents] have said to me they're pretty upset, some are scared. Just about everybody is getting knocked off at night - 2, 3 o'clock in the morning. We're under siege."

Mr Manners reported his burglary to police and received a letter saying they had been unable to find who was responsible.

Mr Manners said often residents waited until the following morning to report the crimes with others choosing not to report.

Rotorua police area commander Bruce Horne encouraged people to call 111 immediately if they saw anything suspicious.

"When people do make those calls we have a very high level of success. In relation to Glenholme, there has been a spike in offending in the past month. In the general area there has been an increase of burglaries. We have a focus on that area and additional patrols in that area."

Mr Horne said an arrest was made last week in relation to a stolen car and burglaries.

"When people get the letter that there is no further line of inquiry, they shouldn't be disheartened by that, particularly in Glenholme we are working hard daily to stop the offending."

He discouraged people from approaching suspects.

"They are putting themselves at risk unnecessarily. Watch people, ideally take notes, a lot of people have cameras on their phones these days and call us at the time it's happening."