Police ignore park thieves on film

Keith Rankin was sure police would be able to do something about his car being broken into in February this year.

Parked in the carpark of Duder Regional Park, near Clevedon, security cameras caught thieves smashing the front window of his vehicle and making off with three backpacks from the boot and sunglasses from the glovebox.

But the Mt Albert economist says when he reported the matter to Papakura police they treated it like an insurance claim.

"They had a film of the crime being done but they didn't bother even when it was reported to them, the attitude was 'It's just an insurance job'," Mr Rankin said.

He said the park ranger offered the tapes to police and he chased the matter up.

"I got sick of ringing. It's really sad because if the regional parks get a reputation people won't go to them."

"What's the point in having cameras there if their evidence is not used. This case is particularly significant in light of the huge investments the Auckland Regional Council is making in its regional parks network."

Mr Rankin said it was also significant because a criminal culture started with petty thefts.

"If they get away they get the message we don't follow up on crime, you can do it as much as you want and we will do nothing about it."

Mr Rankin says police are clearly stretched and is also disappointed about the length of time it is taking them to charge a driver who crashed into his wife's car as she was driving along State Highway 20 to her job at Auckland International Airport.

The accident happened on September 2. The driver of the car who crashed into his wife was allegedly intoxicated and travelling the wrong way down the motorway.

Mr Rankin's wife, Ruby, broke a rib in the smash and had surgery for abdominal injuries but police have still not charged the driver.

"I am getting the impression that because my wife didn't die that basically they are taking an awful long time when it's a most simple charge, someone intoxicated driving along the wrong side of the motorway."

He said he still had been given no indication by police when charges would be laid.

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Not under investigation

An overstretched Auckland police force has 600 unassigned files in the Auckland City district alone. A police report obtained by the Weekend Herald detailed the severity of the situation and revealed police managers had no choice but to "suspend or abandon" investigations deemed less important.

The report entitled Investigations: Management Plan, released this month, was written by district commander Detective Superintendent Gavin Jones and crime services manager Detective Inspector Bruce Shadbolt. Offences deemed less important included commercial burglary, repeat break-ins, fraud, theft from cars and shops and criminal damage.

These are the experiences of some people who contacted the Herald after reading the Weekend Herald story.

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