Preventative measures to avoid theft

The Team from Counties Manukau Police

Police in Counties Manukau West have located a plethora of stolen items after executing a search warrant in Māngere East last week.

Burglary is a serious offence and brings with it a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

There are a number of preventative measures people can take to avoid theft from occurring:

• Ensure your vehicle is locked and don’t leave valuables in plain sight
• If you need to park on the street, park in a well-lit area and near CCTV cameras if you have them
• If possible, have an alarm system in your vehicle/house and tinted windows to deter opportunistic offenders
• Engrave your tools with your driver licence number – that way, if we find your tools, there’s a better chance of us getting them back to you
• Keep a record of the serial numbers
• If you work on a construction site, be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police
• If you can’t take your tools home with you, lock them up in a shed on site
• Second-hand dealers and the public should be wary of tools being offered to them at a price that’s too good to be true

Anyone who sees suspicious activity around vehicles can call Police on 111 if they are witnessing the activity, or 105 after the matter.