Media Release
9 July 2001
Ban The Burglar Programme Gains Momentum
Ban the burglar, the initiative launched last year which uses the combined resources of Neighbourhood Support, Victim
Support and the police to keep our communities safe, is gaining momentum this month with the launch of Ban the Burglar
Kits for schools.
The programme will be launched by the Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis who says, “Manukau is one of the most multi
cultural cities in New Zealand with 154 different cultures and more non-European then European residents, many of whom
speak very little English.
“This can pose a challenge when there is a need to educate people on important issues such as crime prevention.
Therefore I am pleased with this very proactive initiative to develop a programme of educating children who in turn can
educate their parents”.
The project to be implemented by the police will involve issuing information kits to students containing safety
messages, crime prevention tips, advice on what to do if burgled, property identification stickers and police pencils.
Safer Manukau’s outgoing Co-Ordinator, Alexa Crous says, “Safer Manukau is determined to make things increasingly
difficult for burglars in our city. Other measures include encouraging identification of property through property
marking. Police and Safer Manukau are working with organisations to establish a regional response to identify property
when thieves try to sell it.
“Safer Manukau has sponsored various neighbourhood support groups with websites to promote their work in the community,
giving vital information for crime prevention. Some of these have been very successful, such as the Bucklands
Beach/Pakuranga group who now run theirs in partnership with the Police.
“We hope this latest initiative will achieve a dual purpose, that of providing an important learning experience for our
children, who can take home the preventative message to their parents to make their homes and families safer from the
unlawful elements in our communities.”
The launch of Ban the burglar Kits for Schools will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 18 July at Manukau Civic Centre,
Manukau City Council.
Ends
Media Contact
Gabrielle Hinton
Media Liaison
Corporate Communications
Manukau City Council
Phone: (09) 2628900 x 8650
Fax: (09) 2625759
Email: ghinton@manukau.govt.nz