Waiouru Police File

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 495, 20 July 1993, Page 13

Waiouru Police File

• In the past couple of weeks, there have been several minor accidents due to the icy conditions that we have been experiencing. In one accident a vehicle collided into a bank south of the railway lines, in which the woman passenger had to be cut free from the wreckage. Luckily all the accidents have resulted in little or no injury. • A number of people in the last two weeks have been arrested or are facing charges, including a 45year old local woman charged with theft, a 22year old local man facing charges of driving and causing injury while having an excess blood alcohol content, a 26-year old local man charged with intentional damage and another 26-year old local man also arrested and charged with intentional damage. All will be appearing in court later next month. • Last week, the Wanganui Crime Prevention Officer came up to Waiouru and we visited a number of businesses in the local

area looking at security of premises and what we can do to help you improve security and what preventative measures are available to combat theft and burglary. Our aim was to try and get to all businesses but unfortunately time was against us. We do however, intend to hold a Crime Prevention night, to which all business owners will be invited and anyone else who wishes to come and find out how to have a more secure and safer home. Once we get this set up, I would urge as many people as possible to attend. You might learn how easy it is to get into your home or premises and how easy and cost effective it is to have a good home or business security system, or just how few simple ideas you need to deter crime. More details later. • Still no news on Constable Pat Tasker's replacement, but there have been a number of applicants and we should have another officer here in the not too distant future. • If you haven't al-

ready done so, please get your changes of address for your firearms licences into the Police, so when you are called up to obtain your new licence, all the relevant information can be forwarded to the proper address. Remember firearm licensing is carried out at our station on Wednesday, or by appointment. You need $75 and two passport size photographs if you wish to obtain a firearm licence and $65 and two photographs if you already are in possession of the old licence and are called up to get the new one. • Last week, while on patrol on the Desert Road, Constable Peter Thomas suddenly stopped the patrol car, did a U-turn and headed off back up the Desert Road. "What's happened," I asked. "Penguins" he cried, "I've just seen a group of penguins on the side of the road". Believing the snow and ice lying around and Pete's advancing years had finally taken a toll on his mind, I didn't say anything as we sped off to investigate this remarkable phenomenon. The delight on Pete's face was obvious, as he thought of the fame and possible discovery of a new species and a guest spot on Wild Kingdom, or Our World. I'm sure that Sir Richard Attenbourough will be delighted to learn of a species of penguin that can fly and look remarkably like seagulls. Sorry Pete, but you walked into that one. • Have a safe week.