“Crackdown On Crime In Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland”

Police and the Auckland Regional Council are cracking down on crime in Waitakere Regional Parklands carparks this summer.

The ARC plans to use mobile surveillance equipment to monitor trouble spots while the police, who have recently mounted a successful surveillance operation in the park, will be involved.

“We want visitors to enjoy everything the Waitakeres have to offer without the fear of their vehicles being broken into, vandalised or stolen,” ARC Parks and Recreation Committee chairman Bill Burrill says.

“We are not prepared to put up with this type of criminal activity in our parks. We are determined to do what we have to in order to catch the offenders and to support the police in prosecuting them.”

Some offenders have already felt the brunt of the crackdown. In recent months a vehicle was driven into all the barriers in the Spraggs Bush carpark and the toilet there was almost destroyed after being rammed by the same car.

The culprits were arrested, prosecuted and made to repair the damage by way of restitution.

Over recent weeks a police surveillance operation has resulted an arrest following the theft of a car from the Glen Esk carpark and charges have been laid.

“Criminals can expect more of the same if they persist in targeting carparks in the park and with the portable hidden cameras in use they are more likely than ever to be caught,” Cr Burrill says.

However, he stresses that the public can help themselves by making sure they do not leave valuables in their cars. Anybody who is worried about leaving something valuable in their vehicle can drop it off at the ARC’s Arataki Visitors Centre for safe keeping.

Sergeant Paul Ormond, who heads the recently established North Shore / Waitakere District Law Enforcement Team, says car related crime in the Waitakeres is a well recognised, ongoing problem.

“Now, through the LET team, we have staff dedicated to investigating this type of offending and we are happy to be involved with the ARC in an effort to catch the offenders.”

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For further information please call:

Cr Bill Burrill
Chairman, ARC Parks and Recreation Committee
Phone 366-2000 ext 8179
Phone 263-8071 (home)
Mobile 021 978 139

Or

Dave Hayes
ARC Western Sector Principal Ranger
Phone 817-4993
Mobile 025 901 287

Or

Simon Roche
ARC Communications
Phone 366-2000 ext 8100
Mobile 021 656 380

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