Gisborne Girls' High School has been broken into and burgled on "several occasions" this year, along with other premises in Te Hapara, Gisborne. Photo / James Pocock
A Gisborne school, daycare and sports centre have been hit in a spate of burglaries in the suburb of Te Hapara.
Gisborne Trampoline Club head coach Doug Callahan said he discovered on Thursday afternoon last week that their premises, at the Stihl Shop Gisborne Sport Centre, had been broken into when he saw his laptop was missing.
“I was going around to see if there was anything else when I found that my speaker, which is worth $2300, had gone missing, two heaters had gone missing and a blower that blows up our tumbling floor had gone missing as well.
“There is a mark on the door which looks like a crowbar had gone between the two doors and pulled it open.”
He estimated the burglary happened late on Wednesday night, since a Gisborne Judo Club training session held that day at the same premises usually ran relatively late.
Two vacuum cleaners went missing from the club about a month before the incident.
Callahan, a coach of more than 50 years, could not recall any other break-ins at the club before these two.
“We’re not a big club; we try to keep it going.”
He contacted the police and added a chain and lock to the door. The club is also getting security cameras installed.
“I shouldn’t have to do that, you know,” Callahan said.
He was still getting quotes on the value of what was taken.
Inspector Bryan Smith, police area prevention manager for Tairāwhiti, said a burglary at the sports centre overnight on February 4-5 was reported to police, along with an earlier unreported burglary of vacuum cleaners at the address.
“Unfortunately, there was insufficient CCTV available nor witnesses.”
In an email shared on social media this week, Gisborne Girls’ High School said it had been broken into “on several occasions this year”.
“Fencing has been snipped, doors broken and wheels removed from our trailer while in the school grounds. The school is alarmed and cameras are also around the school and this is still happening.”
The school shared a list of items stolen and asked the community to keep an eye out for these online or through word of mouth.
“The police have been informed and if you have any information on any of these items, this is the file number: 260207/4448. Please help keep our GGHS community safe.”
Smith said Gisborne Girls’ High School had been the subject of four burglaries reported to police over the past year.
No one had been arrested or charged in relation to any of those incidents.
“In March of 2025, a bike was stolen from outside the front of the school and police are still looking for witnesses to the offence. Police file number for any information about this offence is: 250312/1513,” Smith said.
“In December of 2025, wheels were stolen from a trailer parked on the school grounds. Police have completed an initial investigation, but no one was able to be identified. If people have any information in relation to this offending, they can contact police and quote file: 251211/9125.
“In January this year, a hole was cut in the fence of the school, and a mountain bike and fuel were taken, however after making extensive inquiries, no leads were viable. If members of the public know anything about this, they can quote file 260129/5185.
“Lastly, in February this year, offenders have entered a garden shed and tools were taken, including a lawn mower and line trimmer. Police are appealing for witnesses to this burglary, and would like people to quote file 260207/4448 if they know of anything in relation to this.”
Smith said police suggested property owners and landlords ensure that their property is secure at all times.
“There are some steps people can take to reduce burglary risks, such as ensuring all locks are of quality, exterior lighting is sufficient and CCTV systems are working.
“Police encourage people to report suspicious behaviour and to get to know your neighbours, as well as joining a neighbourhood watch scheme, even if on a temporary basis.
“If you see suspicious activity, people, or vehicles in your neighbourhood, contact police immediately.”
The Gisborne Herald understands a police report about a burglary at Busy Bees on Wellington St, which runs alongside Gisborne Girls’ High School, was made on January 28.
Busy Bees has been approached for comment.
Smith said it appeared that used copper had been taken from Busy Bees.
“Police searched CCTV, however, no leads were forthcoming but if anyone has any information about this and any of the other cases mentioned here, we urge them to contact police on 105 and quote the file numbers.”
Meanwhile, police are investigating the theft of a white Bobcat two-tonne digger between Friday February 6 and Monday February 9 on Stanley Rd.
Eastern District Police, in a post on Facebook, urged those who knew its whereabouts to pass details on to police and asked anyone with information on the digger to contact them on 105, quoting the file number 260209/9159.
“There’s no doubt someone has seen the valuable digging machinery or knows about the burglary,” the post reads.