Crims prey on people's fears

Thieves and burglars are cashing in on Rotorua residents' fears of being attacked and murdered.
The chances of being followed by a madman in the Redwood forest or being attacked by someone breaking into their home are among Rotorua residents' worst fears.
The reality is, they are much more likely to have their homes burgled or their cars broken into, more likely to be attacked by a violent partner than a stranger and more likely to be killed by a drunk driver than a murderer.
Rotorua police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne says the risk of the types of crimes people focus on are so slim, they're not worth worrying about.
In the past year there were 1660 reported burglaries in Rotorua and 1060 thefts from cars but just one alleged murder.
Mr Horne said while crimes people should be concerned about were less dramatic than those people focused on, they could be just as serious.
His comments came after AUT University senior criminology lecturer Dr John Buttle said this week people's fears about crime were often unjustified.
The risk of being murdered, for instance, was minimal.
"Similarly, people are often worried about their children being taken by strangers, when the real concern needs to be focused on those who are known to the child."
Dr Buttle said people still believed crime was on the rise despite recorded crime being in decline since 1992.
The latest crime statistics are due out on Monday and Rotorua is tipped for another drop.
Mr Horne said the best way to stop fearing crime was to take simple steps to keep safe - lock your house and car, notify police if you know of drunk drivers and don't put up with violent family members.
"Some of the things keeping people awake at night, like a stranger breaking into their house and killing them, ... they shouldn't be worried about ... but if you are leaving your car and house unlocked, you need to do something about it.
"If you take those responsible precautions, the chances of being a victim of crime are slim."
It was common for people to fear walking in the Redwoods but he couldn't think of anyone being attacked in recent years, Mr Horne said.
It was, however, common for vehicles parked at the forest to be targeted.
Rotorua woman Di Gordon rarely walks in the Redwoods alone for fear of something happening to her.
She became more aware of violent attacks after going to the rescue of a woman who was being beaten by her partner in a walkway near her home.
She believes there are more violent people around now.
"I'm a naturopath and do a lot of counselling and people do have a fear of crime ... they worry about violence, home invasions and personal injury.
"Sexual crimes are up there too."
Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Barrie Fenton said his members often talked about home invasions, which were in fact very rare.
"The chances of that happening are probably the same as winning Lotto."
He said overall Rotorua residents did feel safer now - confirmed by this year's Perceptions of Safety Survey - but he would not recommend women walking or running alone in the Redwoods.
"I have never seen any suspicious types on the walking tracks but I just question anyone running alone in places like that. You are tempting fate."