Burglars in Rotorua are taking loads of groceries in hauls from homes they break into.
Police and Rotorua Neighbourhood Support have noticed an annual spike in burglaries in Rotorua, including 40 the week before Christmas, but it isn't just the usual electrical items being taken. Burglars have been targeting food.
Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Barrie Fenton said burglars were taking every opportunity to get things they wanted.
"They see people returning from the supermarket with bags of groceries and just wait until they can grab them," he said.
"Food was taken from lots of houses in the week before Christmas."
Mr Fenton said the burglars took several items which people had bought for their Christmas lunch.
"It surprised me, they just took anything. They even took vegetables," he said.
"Food was such a popular item. It gives a new meaning to Christmas shopping."
Mr Fenton said another trend was youths using the Utuhina Stream to get into properties.
"A lot of properties back on to the stream and people have started using the stream to get into the back of the properties."
Constable Debby Fraser of the Rotorua police intelligence section said the past month had seen high numbers of burglaries - which wasn't unusual during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
"In the past week we had 32, 40 the week before that and 33 the week before that."
Mrs White said police had noticed Rotorua's western suburbs were being hit the hardest.
"We seem to be dealing with the same groups of offenders."
She said burglars were taking a range of items.
"It is not just the small electronics, we have noticed a lot of food is being taken."
Mrs White said before Christmas, large-screen televisions were being taken but over the past few weeks burglars were targeting smaller items.
"It is unusual for food to be taken, we don't see a lot of that."
She said many recent burglaries were in commercial buildings.
"Six motels have been hit as well as a couple of schools."
Mrs White said burglars were going through people's bags when they were left in the open.
The burglars weren't necessarily looking for open doors and windows, she said.
"They have been forcing doors and windows.
"We need people to keep an eye out and be vigilant. If they see people acting suspiciously they should call the police."
Backpacker operators spoken to by The Daily Post had not personally been affected by burglaries. They listed door codes, locks on rooms and general vigilance as being among the precautions being taken at their establishments to prevent thieves gaining access to visitors' belongings.
But all operators knew of tourists whose cars had been broken into and said they issued warnings to guests to not leave anything in view.
Motel owners contacted were also more aware of thefts from cars rather than units and said they did advise visitors on security, although there had to be a balance between making them aware of potential issues and not scaring them off.
Rotorua Salvation Army's Captain Rob Bartlett said the organisation had given out about 250 food hampers before Christmas - a clear sign that some people were struggling.
However, he said he was unaware of any particular increase in demand.
BURGLARIES
Dates and number of burglaries that occurred
* December 28-January 3: 32
* December 21-December 27: 40
* December 14-December 20: 33
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Rotorua Daily Post
Rest home owner and staff told to apologise to man's family
The man had a fall inside the rest home and died two weeks later.