Burglaries double as summer heats up | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

An increase in burglaries has the Whanganui Police urging people to take extra precautions at home and at the beach.

Whanganui Police acting senior sergeant Andrew McDonald said there had been a two-fold increase in the number of burglaries in the Gonville/Castlecliff area during the holiday period, and people should take extra care in making sure their home is secure at this time of year.

People were still taking holidays, and precautions such as getting neighbours, relatives or friends to collect mail, hang clothing on the line or turn the lights on could go a long way in stopping a potential burglar. Ensuring the house was secure and windows were closed even if you were just out for the day would help stop a burglar.

Residents in these areas are asked to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and if they did see something, to tell a member of the neighbourhood policing team working in Gonville, or call police.

The same warning extends to the beach, where beach-goers are asked to take more care with their possessions following an increase in thefts from cars.

Property thefts from cars at Kai Iwi, South and Castlecliff beaches had risen during the summer.

It was a regular occurrence at this time of year as the weather warmed up, but there were steps people could take to help prevent themselves becoming victims, Mr McDonald said.

The safest thing to do would be to leave all valuables at home, but failing that, he urged people to remember that if they could see their possessions through the car window, then thieves could, too.

Stashing valuables out of sight or taking them with you was a good idea, but leaving the car unsecured, or your property unsupervised on the sand would leave you vulnerable once again.

If anyone has any information regarding either burglaries in the Gonville/Castlecliff areas, or on thefts from cars, they are asked to contact Whanganui police on 349 0600, or anonymously via crimestoppers, 0800 555 111.