Watch NZH Local Focus: Kids forced inside after shade sail stolen

Summer has finally arrived, but this year, these Napier toddlers MUST stay inside.

The Plunket Community Hub in Onekawa has had its shade sail, worth more than $3000, stolen.

"It really was very much a case of the shade sail was there one day and arrive at work the next morning and it's pretty obvious when something that large and red is there one day and then suddenly not," Plunket Community Support Coordinator Karyn Teddy said.

Hawke's Bay is usually one of the hottest summer spots in the country. Metservice has forecast a hotter than average summer this year.

Kirsten Harrild said she has "two little redheads" who make a dash for the Plunket's play area each time they go to playgroup.

It's the latest in a string of thefts over the past year - which have left staff and parents feeling targeted.

"I just can't believe that someone stole from Plunket, it's a charity. It just seems really mean," Miss Harrild said.

But the stolen shade sail is just one of many cases as the rate of crime grows across the region, according to Labour police spokesperson, Napier MP Stuart Nash.

Recently released police statistics put Eastern District at the top with a 31 percent increase in burglaries - that's 23 more each week.

"The government has fiscal constraints there's no doubt about that. But safe communities, it's hard to put a price on that, so when you announce $2 billion on a prison building programme but you say there's no more money for policing, you sort of wonder if they've got their priorities right."

Police Minister Judith Collins acknowledges the policing constraints and says she has been working with government to increase police numbers.

"It tugs at your heartstrings, you're out there and you're trying to support a community," Mrs Teddy said.

Mr Nash says drugs are a huge instigator of crime in the Eastern District.

He believes economic development should still be the biggest focus, because providing jobs discourages anti-social behaviour.

Plunket Onekawa has setup a givealittle page to help raise funds to replace the shade sail.

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