On the Beat
Happy New Year! I am popping back in this week with a quick update on Waipā over the festive season.
Deb Hann – Senior Constable
Between December 22 and January 12 Cambridge staff were kept busy including dealing with three people driving with excess breath alcohol, 12 family harm incidents, six assaults, three reports of offenders unlawfully on property, 12 burglaries, seven vehicle thefts or attempted thefts, two incidents of wilful damage, seven mental health incidents and numerous reports of dangerous driving and traffic crashes. In addition we received several other reports of thefts and cases of fraud.
Notable arrests included a male charged with threatening, assaulting and impeding the breathing of his partner and another male wanted for breach of court bail on existing family harm charges as well as a new breach of protection order and burglary. A third male was arrested after coming to police attention for behaving threateningly and obscenely in town, driving dangerously, being then found to be in possession of drugs and associated utensils and to have escaped police custody. He then breached his court bail conditions and faced a further charge of wilful damage following further incidents.
In Te Awamutu for the same time period, staff responded to numerous calls for service including 30 family harm incidents, 16 burglaries, 10 incidents of threatening behaviour, nine of wilful damage, four trespass matters, two people driving with excess breath alcohol and two mental health incidents. In addition, there were similarly several reports of theft and six of fraud.
Notable arrests included a male charged with a serious assault on another male on Alexandra Street and three women also faced various charges stemming from a shoplifting incident. Their vehicle was identified and stopped after they initially left the scene.
A subsequent search located several stolen items, utensils for drug use and cannabis. The female driver was then also found to be breaching a bail condition and not to be licensed. A further male was arrested following a family harm incident and faced two charges of assault.
I hope everyone has managed to get some timeout for a good break. Whether at home or back at work, don’t forget the old saying – slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen and slap on a hat; keep hydrated and be safe around water.
Senior constable Deb Hann inside the police station. Photo: Aaron Radford.
