Cameras, patrols aim to curb crime | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Crime has dropped by more than 40 per cent in Eketahuna in the last year and the installation of several new initiatives looks likely to make getting away with crime in the area even harder.
Constable Dave Gallagher says the recent installation of security cameras that sweep the Main Street and side streets, including the formerly troublesome top end of Bridge Street, would detect criminal acts and a community patrol is being formed.
Mr Gallagher said the final touches were being made to the planning, development and administration of the patrols and that townspeople had put their names forward as volunteers.
In addition there was interest being shown in reinstating the office of Maori Warden in Eketahuna, a position that has been vacant since the death of Jerry Tewake.
Mr Gallagher said apart from playing a role at functions like Anzac Day commemorations and at funerals the Maori warden was a further point of contact for young people and helped break down barriers.
Despite the drop in overall crime in the last year as compared with 2008/2009 Mr Gallagher said there had been an increase in drug crimes. That was probably due to police diligence in dealing with cannabis offences and drug busts had resulted in people being apprehended for cannabis possession, possession for supply and for cultivation.
He said it was not uncommon to uncover sophisticated hydroponic set-ups and that those responsible had wrongly assumed that by going to a small town like Eketahuna nobody would notice what they were getting up to.
Mr Gallagher said although there was not a lot of disorder in the main street he hoped the security cameras that were now in operation would further cut that back.
Already the cameras had helped identify young people seen kicking down a fence at the playground in Bridge Street and the pan of the cameras was helpful also in monitoring the area around where the red bins are.
Mr Gallagher said police had concentrated on keeping lines of communications open with publicans in the town to ensure intoxicated people were not served further alcohol and that other drink laws were observed.
He said the main crime still unresolved was theft throughout the rural areas of Tararua and that Eketahuna police were co-ordinating with police in Pongaroa, Pahiatua, Woodville and Dannevirke in an operation to nab a gang of thieves targeting specific property in rural areas.
''There have been thefts from cowsheds and burglaries at woolsheds with electric fence units, pigtail standards, lots of power tools and hand tools, chainsaws and water blasters stolen. The thieves have also been taking large quantities of petrol from farm storage tanks. Probably thousands of litres have been stolen.'' Mr Gallagher said police were especially interested in the movements of utility-type vehicles and want people living in rural areas to telephone police when any suspicious behaviour is noticed.
'If you think a car or ute doesn't belong in the area ring us and, if possible, take down the registration number.''