Kihikihi’s The Star
A “deeply saddened” Jan Gower fears she may never get back irreplaceable jewellery and priceless Mongolian antiques which were among about $20,000 of items stolen from her Kihikihi home late last month.
“I have spent a lifetime of travel collecting some of those antiques. I can’t believe people would be like that,” Jan, Waipā Te Awamutu-Kihikihi ward councillor Marcus Gower’s mother, told The News on Monday.
Police say sometime between December 23 and 27 thieves stole a new fireplace, a lawn mower and other garden tools from an outdoor shed at Jan’s Atkinson St address.
Then, after getting into her home, they took a Christmas hamper, meat, the jewellery, the antiques and other items.
The burglary is one of three in Kihikihi over the Christmas period which police continue to seek information about – all while CommSafe was busy reminding residents to keep an eye out on the neighbourhood following reports about suspicious people and vehicles.
Early on Christmas Day, Kihikihi Rugby Sports Club was broken into and alcohol was stolen.
Intruders also caused damage by ripping a television from its bracket.
On December 27, the Star Tavern on Lyon St was broken into. Alcohol was taken and a CCTV monitor damaged.
CommSafe Neighbourhood Support is telling residents who get the feeling something is not right about someone they see acting suspiciously to “listen to your gut” and phone the police.
Residents are also being reminded to get car registration details, as well as the make and model of the vehicle and note the time.
If the vehicle, or people, have moved on report it through the 105 police non-emergency service.
New Zealand Police also has a stolen vehicles page, with CommSafe advising people to check whether or not a vehicle has been reported stolen.
Before Christmas police made a series of arrests after burglaries in Sloane St, Te Awamutu, and Duke Street, Cambridge which were committed by what they called an organised crime group. Police used road spikes to stop a fleeing vehicle and caught four youths, aged 15 to 19, who ran away. Polie believe 10 youths were involved.
The incident prompted Superintendent Bruce Bird to say “the community have had enough, the victims have had enough and we have had enough”.
Police are also encouraging residents to consider installing their own security cameras.
Cameras helped police arrest a number of youths in Cambridge in late December following a rise in car thefts and thefts from cars.
Kihikihi Rugby Sports Club
