Rotorua Police Notebook: 54 family violence callouts in three days

Police were kept busy with a spike of family violence callouts over Queen's Birthday weekend. Photo / File

Rotorua Police were called to 54 family violence incidents in three days over the long weekend - a significant jump in callouts.

Rotorua police crime prevention manager Inspector Brendon Keenan said the callouts spanned from Saturday to Monday.

Keenan said there were 72 reports of family violence for the week - an average of more than 10 a day.

Reported crime drop

Total crime during the past week was down 28 reported offences from the previous week to 177 offences.

There were seven fewer serious crime offences than the previous week, down to 57 offences. However, there had been a jump in stolen cars and thefts from cars, particularly in the Eastern suburbs, Keenan said.

Police stopped 229 vehicles during the past week, 165 of those for speeding offences.

Keenan reminded drivers to be careful on the roads especially during the cold and wet conditions.

Crime trends

Mazda and Nissan vehicles continue to be targeted by thieves in Rotorua.

Keenan said thieves were smashing quarter lights and ignitions were being damaged.

He said a Demio was taken from Carnot St and was found near the lake at the end of Galvin Rd and a Pulsar was found at the corner of Galvin and Umukuria Rds in a paddock covered with branches to hide it.

Burglars take firearms

There have been at least two burglaries during the past week in which firearms were taken.

The first was at a house on High St in Glenholme between Friday and Sunday.

A rear window of the property was smashed and a thorough search of the house was carried out by the thieves. A large amount of jewellery was stolen as well as a .22 rifle.

The second was overnight on Saturday when a farm shed on Acacia Rd at Lake Okareka was broken into.

A quad bike was stolen along with a fully functioning rifle that was attached to it, electric dog collars and binoculars. The rifle was a .223 Howa rifle with synthetic stock and scope.

Stolen cars

Those selling cars at "Rangi's Car Yard", near Migs Gym off Te Ngae Rd, are being warned to keep a close eye on their cars. A 1998 blue Mazda B2500 ute was stolen from there overnight on Friday.

Other cars stolen during the past week were a black 1998 BMW 328I registration XJ9303 stolen from Sunrise Ave on Sunday.

A number plate registration ERQ383 was stolen off a vehicle on Clayton Rd on Sunday.

A blue 1998 Mazda B2500 registration X07793 was stolen from Te Ngae Rd on Saturday.

A black 1993 Isuzu car registration ATN858 was stolen from Sequoia Cres on Friday.

• Any information about any of the above incidents can be given to Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.