Labour MP warns neighbours after break in

Carmel Sepuloni is warning her fellow neighbours in Titirangi to secure their properties after her home was broken into. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Kelston's Labour MP's warning her fellow neighbours in Titirangi to secure their properties after her home was broken into.

Two televisions, a computer, a couple of passports and some of Carmel Sepuloni's son's clothes were taken in the burglary.

Her 17-year-old son was the first to notice their house had been broken into when he arrived home at 2:40 yesterday afternoon.

On his arrival he found the front door wide open and a window smashed.

Ms Sepuloni said her son was too scared to go in on his own and so called 111.

She said police advised they were unable to come to the property and instead just talked him through walking in.

The Labour MP said she arrived home 30 minutes later and called police herself, only to be told they weren't sure when, or if, they could come.

However, as is standard when an MP's had a breach of security, she called the Parliamentary Security Service to inform them of what had happened.

She said the service followed up with a call to police, who then called her back and confirmed officers would come to check out the place this morning.

"They did...but it shouldn't take being an MP for police to come out."

However, Waitakere police Claire Humble said police would attend immediately only if the offender was still on site.

Otherwise police would look to send a Scene of Crime officer to the property "if forensic opportunities exist" at an appropriate time.

"In this case the Scene of Crime officers rang the victim between 4 - 5 pm last night and booked in a time to come and examine the scene this morning.

"They were not able to attend the scene last night as there were other burglary victims who had already been booked in to have their properties examined."

Ms Sepuloni, who said this is the first time her home has been broken into, planned to heighten her home security following the incident.

"I've been pretty relaxed about security before."

But she said this showed simply locking up is not always enough.

She would always arm her security alarm before heading out and planned to have it monitored.

Ms Sepuloni had also been talking to neighbours, had posted a warning on the Titirangi Facebook page and planned to do a mailbox drop around the area.