Whangārei police advice to businesses on security measures after spate of burglaries

This distinctive ute belonging to McKenzie Contracting with 220 litres of diesel on board was stolen from its Kioreroa Rd yard. Photo / Supplied

Whangārei police are urging commercial businesses to put in place appropriate security measures to make it as hard as possible for burglars to target their properties.

The advice comes after police received complaints about a spate of burglaries of mostly commercial premises in the past three weeks when vehicles and tools were generally stolen.

A motor mower and a weed eater belonging to the Salvation Army in Whangārei, a commercial ute on Kioreroa Rd, a biltong trailer, and welding tools from a residential property in Maungakaramea, were among cases reported recently.

Whangārei police area prevention team member Sergeant James Calvert said commercial premises were often targeted overnight because that was when they were closed and often no one was around that made it less likely offenders would be interrupted.

They also were more likely to obtain higher value items such as work vehicles, he said.

"Police always encourage commercial businesses to ensure their premises are secure and have security measures in place to make it as hard as possible for an offender to burgle their property.

"Ensure your fences and boundaries are in good repair, security lighting and CCTV are operable and working, work vehicles are parked inside a building if possible, burglar alarms and security monitoring is all functioning and fit for purpose and trailer locks for vehicles parked outside are considered."

Calvert said offenders who committed these types of crimes were typically repeat offenders who targeted multiple locations.

He said Whangārei police prioritised attending to all burglary crime scenes to obtain the best possible evidence and increased the possibility of apprehending an offender, therefore preventing further burglaries from taking place.

Police attended the scenes the next morning after the burglaries at the Salvation Army and the commercial premises on Kioreroa Rd were reported, he said.

Police are asking people to report crimes as soon as possible so they can be attended to and action taken.

If anyone sees suspicious activity occurring or a crime taking place, they should call 111 immediately.

Victims of a burglary can call 105 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Information and advice around business crime prevention can be found on at www.police.govt.nz.