Waiouru Police File

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 404, 21 July 1992, Page 2

Waiouru Police File

BY

CONSTABLE CHRIS

SCALES

In the past two weeks we have had an alarming increase in vehicles and premises being broken into and property removed in and around the housing areas. The situation is now causing concern. In most cases these offences are occurring in the early hours of the morning, with two or three incidents being reported a day. Property being taken ranges from cassette tapes and bankbooks, to musical instruments including a guitar and tuner. In one case the Waiouru dog ranger had all of his equipment stolen along with horse equipment. • In the early hours of last Thursday night, a soldier disturbed two individuals rifling through a vehicle in Laing Lane. He chased the two through properties and streets around the area before losing them. Due to his concerted efforts, he was able to give us a good discription of the two offenders. We are looking for two young Maori juveniles, aged about 10 and 12. Both were wearing dark clothing and one was wearing a black balaclava 'beani' type hat. The younger was carrying a green army type duffle bag. The same night, two sheds had been broken into and a garage burgled. We are certain that these two youngsters are responsible for most, if not all the offences that have been reported to us

and the MPs over the last couple of weeks. It also seems apparent that the offenders are local. I urge all parents in the housing areas to please be aware of this fact and we would appreciate any more information. Without sounding like a record, please ensure that your vehicles and property are secured. • The dangers of drinking and driving were again highlighted last week when a local man was found asleep and intoxicated in his vehicle parked in the middle of the road at Mulvays Corner in the early hours of the morning. Judging by the large number of vehicles s ti 11 parked outside the drinking establishments around closing times, it is obvious that we are not learning. In the first few months of the year, no locals were processed

for drinking and driving, now we are processing drunk drivers regular ly towards the end of each week. This is disappointing. • Now that we are into the winter sports season, a lot of raffles are being run for fund raising. Unfortunately, many of these raffles are illegal. The rules are quite straight-forward. If you run a raffle and the prizes are between $50 and $500. in the aggregate, you must forward a letter to the Police, giving details of what the prizes are, when they are going to be on sale, when the raffle is to be drawn and where the proceeds are going too. You must have printed tickets giving all this information, unless the raffle is being sold within a club or society where the tickets are sold to the members. The draw does not have to be done under Police supervision. Any raffle with all prizes adding up to $500 or more is a different story, and a licence must be obtained from the Internal Affairs. Raffles under $50 are no problem providing the proceeds go into

a legitimate fund or society. Follow these simple guidelines and you will not breach the Gaming and Lotteries Act, which can incur fines ranging from

$4,000. upwards. Contact the Internal Affairs in Rotorua if you have anv doubts. • Security is the word for the week, and have a safe one.