Readers in favour of Act’s burglary policy

THREE STRIKES: Act leader Jamie Whyte announced the party's three-strike burglary policy last week.

Times-Age Facebook posters think three strikes is three strikes too many for burglars.

The Act Party outlined a three-strikes policy for burglars last week, under which offenders will spend at least three years in prison if convicted of burglary for a third time. The Times-Age asked Facebook posters if they agreed with this policy, the response was that burglars shouldn’t get any chances. “Why wasn’t it put in place years ago...better yet why are they given two warnings then locked up?” Keshia Edwards-Matthews said.

“I like the idea, but why wait until the third time? Why not first time, one month... second time, a year... third time, three years. People work hard to buy what they have in their homes. The burglars have no conscience when stealing from others so why should people feel bad about putting them away,” Alanna Saunders said.

“Why should our homes and communities be stolen from three times before anything is done? Burglary is a highly repeated offence, the majority will do it many times again. I don’t think they should be given another chance!” another poster said.

“Nip it in the bud at the beginning and crime will not progress to more dangerous crime. Bring the ‘broken windows’ policy here to NZ.” Sue Reid said.

One Facebook user questioned the whole idea of the proposal, suggesting that white collar fraud should be the focus. “The Government pays a lot of attention to burglaries and welfare fraud, but what about white collar fraud? These already wealthy people are stealing billions of dollars a year, with little consequence... and small jail terms - hardly a deterrent,” Kim Aperloo said.

Act Party leader Dr Whyte said fewer than 2 per cent of burglaries resulted in a term of imprisonment last year. The three-strikes-for burglary policy would send all burglars to prison for at least three years without parole if convicted of the offence three times, whether it be in one burglary spree or over many years. “Burglary is a serious crime that causes misery to tens of thousands of New Zealanders every year,” Dr Whyte said.