Crimeline: Suspicious activity in upmarket suburb

Kelvin Heights alert

Police have heightened their presence in the Cedar and Oregon Drive areas of Kelvin Heights after receiving “multiple reports of suspicious activity” at different locations there during the past three weeks.

Community and Youth Constable Amanda Shute says Police urge residents to report any suspicious behaviour they witness and to come forward with any information in relation to a bike which was left in a driveway in the area. “If you located this bike, we would like to speak to you about this,” Shute says.

Several weeks ago, Police warned residents in the area to lock their cars and houses, keep valuables out of sight and not be complacent after a wallet was stolen from an unlocked car in Oregon Drive.

The Kelvin Peninsula Community Association was also urging people through its Facebook Page to contact Police with information about a stolen bike in the area recently. The association posted that a person spotted someone on a bike dressed in dark clothing shining a torch into cars at 4am on 27 March. According to the post, a second vehicle was also allegedly broken into, and items stolen around 4am that day, however, this doesn’t appear to have been reported to Police.

The trend in the area is of particular concern, Shute says. “It appears to be isolated to these areas. This is not just a few reports. We’re not sure if it’s opportunistic, but it’s definitely of concern that there have been multiple reports.

“We’re asking residents and passers by to note down anything unusual or suspicious that they see, that doesn’t look right and report it to us. Something just may not sit well.”

Most of the recent reports have been in relation to suspicious activity in the evenings.

Meanwhile, the victim of the recent Facebook Marketplace fraud involving empty holiday homes, which was also concentrated on the Cedar and Oregon Drive areas, has been located and Police investigations are continuing.

Pepper sprayed

A 29-year-old male was removed from a Church Street bar around 10.30pm on 5 April, due to his level of intoxication. The man became argumentative and allegedly resisted the security guard who had been assisting him out of the bar, Shute says.

It’s alleged that both men fell to the ground and further security was needed to assist. Police were called and the man was identified and arrested. Shute says he resisted and raised his arm in preparation to punch the arresting officer. OC (pepper) spray was deployed before the man could land the punch and the male received medical care. Enquiries are continuing.

Runaway van

Police were flagged down by a member of the public alerting them to a runaway van which had rolled down Weaver Street into a parked car on 3 April about 9pm. “A rental van, that had been parked up with no occupants, had travelled about 10 metres down the road, crashing into the back of the stationary parked Suzuki Swift,” Shute says. The van’s handbrake had been firmly in place and fortunately it was stopped by the parked Swift. Nobody was inside either vehicle and no injuries were sustained.

Graffiti

Police are concerned about a recent increase in tagging or graffiti in various parts of the basin. They’ve identified a young Queenstown male who has allegedly been tagging around the Queenstown and Arrowtown areas. He’s been charged with wilful damage and is due to appear in the Queenstown Youth Court on Friday, 12 April.

Officers have noticed a marked increase in the amount of visible tagging in the community and often the offenders use the same ‘tag’ to mark their work, Shute says. “We’re seeing it all over town, not just around the CBD. This latest case was in Arrowtown and luckily, he’s been located and charged. Police are still seeking another repeat offender.

Burnt out vehicle

Police were called to the Shotover Delta after a member of the public discovered a burnt-out vehicle by the river flats. It’s believed the fire had occurred between 5.30pm on 8 April and 7am on 9 April. Police are seeking any information in relation to this that could help with their enquiries. The vehicle, thought to be a station wagon, was so charred the registration and other details couldn’t be identified.