Concerns are being raised about police staffing levels in the Bay of Islands.
With the Paihia station sergeant now deployed in Bougainville and a constable on paternity leave, the town has just one constable on the beat.
Paihia Community Patrol co-ordinator Martin Crooks said it was "not a good look"that police couldn't respond when burglars were recently disturbed raiding a house.
"Our lone police officer is doing an awesome job but he can't do the job of three police," he said.
Responding to concerns raised by Mr Crooks, Northland's top cop Superintendent Russell Le Prou said police would support the Paihia constable by deploying staff from Kerikeri and Kawakawa
Paihia burglary victim Greg Simmons said the Government's plans to cut the police budget were not fair to the police or the public.
"Are they going to cut down on the criminals as well? Are they going to say, 'There's five in your gang, can you cut it down to three?" he asked.
A day after concerns were raised with police, Mr Simmons and Eva Rudolph disturbed burglars ransacking their home - then had to wait until the next morning for police to arrive.
The pair had been visiting a seriously ill relative when they returned to their School Rd home about 9.30pm on April 17. They turned on the lights to discover a mess in the living room and the back door open.
Convinced the intruders had fled only seconds earlier, they called 111 immediately.
The call taker was "tops" but also very apologetic because police couldn't respond that night, Mr Simmons said.
