Honesty box suspect caught on camera

Police are hot on the trail of a man alleged to have stolen from the Council honesty box at the Whitianga Wharf boat ramp.

The box is there so people can pay the boat ramp permit fees on the spot and outside Council hours.

Council Compliance Team Leader Steve Hart mounted a stealth camera targeting the box after it had been interfered with a few times recently.

Whitianga police and our compliance team would like to speak to the man in the photo in relation to incidents over the past few months at the permit honesty box.

Anyone who recognises the man in the photo should contact Whitianga Police in the first instance on 07 866 4000 or Mr Hart on 07 868 0200.

Thefts from the honesty box have prompted the installation later this week of a permanent security camera and lights at the boat ramp in order to deter future crime.

"Boat ramp, wharf and pay and display car park fees generate tens of thousands of dollars annually in Mercury Bay alone," says Council's Mercury Bay Area Manager Sam Marshall.

"This is money that goes into maintaining and upgrading these assets. So, when somebody steals this money or when people don't pay their fair share of fees for using such facilities, they're not stealing from Council, they're stealing from ratepayers," says Mr Marshall.

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