Crimeline: Determined burglars nab thousands of dollars worth of beer – 11th Avenue
Determined burglars nab thousands of dollars worth of beer – 11th Avenue
Burglars who targeted 11th Avenue in Frankton, hit twice in the past week, were “pretty determined”, those caught on security camera even bringing empty plastic milk containers to fill from the beer taps, co-owner Gino Mendoza says.
He estimates he’s probably lost more than $4000 worth of alcohol in the two overnight raids on his suburban café-restaurant, the two people believed to be responsible going to great lengths to cover their faces and identities.
Police investigating the two burglaries say they’ve still had a good response from the public to photos from new security cameras in 11th Avenue’s beer garden, but they’re keen for further information which could help them identify and locate the offenders. Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson says the CCTV images posted on the Southern District Police Facebook page show the pair helping themselves to alcohol from 11th Avenue’s outdoor shelter bar by Frank’s at Remarkables Park.
Police say the burglaries occurred about 2.45am on Sunday (31 May) and 2.20am last Wednesday (27 May).
Constable Amanda Shute says a keg stolen from the bar has been recovered by Police. “We’re encouraging anyone with further information to contact Police via 105 or Crimestoppers,” she says.
Mendoza, who only bought the restaurant and bar with his wife in January, says cans and bottles of beer were also stolen. He estimates around $1500 was taken during the Sunday (31 May) burglary alone.
Despite extra security measures taken, including chains and heavy locks on the fridges and better positioning of the cameras, the persistent burglars weren’t deterred, he says. “We first saw them on camera arriving at 2am and then they returned at 3am bringing back big cutters,” he says. “It’s very concerning. The intention was still really there,” Mendoza says.
He says he suspects that, prior to the repositioning of the security cameras, they’ve likely been burgled on two more occasions with their inventory not matching up.
Downtown drivers allegedly four and five times over limit
Police nabbed two alleged drink drivers – one allegedly almost five times over the legal limit and the other more than four times, both caught in central Queenstown on Friday, 29 May, and say they will be holding all drivers accountable for their behaviour and poor decisions.
“It beggars belief that people can have that much to drink and even contemplate getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, Otago Lakes Road Policing manager Acting Senior Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones says. “It’s completely unacceptable”.
One of the alleged drivers was a 20-year-old local man stopped on Hallenstein Street just after 10.30pm after colliding with two parked vehicles, Constable Amanda Shute says. He allegedly blew 1231mcg and his licence was suspended for 28 days. He’s been charged with driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcg and operating a vehicle carelessly and appears in the Queenstown District Court on 22 June.
The other man charged was a 25-year-old from Dunedin, who allegedly blew 1166mcg when stopped just after 1am on Lake Esplanade. His licence was also suspended for 28 days, and he will appear in court on 26 June.
Other drink driving:
An 18-year-old local teenage woman also allegedly blew 234mcg just after 1am on Saturday and will face a charge of driving as a person under 20 over 159mcg in court on 26 June.
Gibbston crash in ice
Thankfully nobody was injured in a single-vehicle collision when a driver slowed to take a right-hand bend and lost control in ice on Gibbston Highway just before 1.30am on Thursday, 28 May, Shute says. “The vehicle skidded 20 metres before hitting a bank on the right side of the road and rolling onto the passenger side.”
Serious safety concerns – Electric dirt bikes
Police have serious concerns about the safety of unlicensed riders on high-powered electric dirt bikes with children as young as 10 riding these in public places, which is prohibited, Hannah-Jones says.
With many people unsure what constitutes an electric motorcycle Police are providing clarification and guidance with increasing numbers of young people riding these on public roads, often unlicensed. “Nationally it’s becoming a significant problem. We’ve had issues over many months now with electric dirt bikes on roads, footpaths and public reserves. Some is illegal behaviour and some is ignorance,” Hannah-Jones says.
“It looks like a fun toy and for some families it is a fun toy, if you’re out on private land,” he says. “But it’s not ok riding these around Hanley’s Farm reserves and on the road verges of the main highways.”
If the bike is less than 300 watts and capable of less than 50km/hr then it’s classified as an electric scooter and isn’t considered to be a motor vehicle. If it’s over 300 watts and capable of more than 50km/hr then it’s considered under the rules to be a moped and requires registration and the rider needs a motorcycle licence.
Breaches can attract fines, but Police will be taking an educational approach first.
Large bonfire tamed
Frankton volunteer firefighters turned out to a large bonfire at Hanley’s Farm around 6pm on Saturday after a nearby resident saw the flames and called them in. Station officer Karl Argyle says the fire was very noticeable from the highway and while it wasn’t posing any immediate threat officers just tamed it back a bit to a less aggressive level.
