Crimeline - car thief, bad drivers, icy mishaps
A potential car thief, some bad drivers and icy mishaps on the usual winter black spots have made for a typical pre-ski season week for Police.
However, while crime hasn’t been rampant it may just be the calm before the storm - the snowstorm that is.
Potential downtown car thief
While we’re still waiting on the big dump to get the town rolling, the chilly overnight temperatures may have acted as a welcome deterrent for many night-time offenders this past week.
However, not for a 32-year-old Invercargill man, who was reported to Police when he was spotted allegedly trying door handles of cars along Lake Esplanade at 1:30am on Saturday, 8 June. Police Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson says the man was charged with unlawful interference with a motor vehicle.
This occurred only a week out from a serious spate of car break-ins causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in the Poplar Drive/Cedar Drive area of Kelvin Heights. Those thieves caused significant damage, smashing windows and damaging ignition barrels, and Police are still investigating with those culprits not yet identified. Vehicle owners across the basin are being urged to be vigilant, to lock up and not leave valuables in their parked cars. Police say outside lighting and security cameras are also a good deterrent.
Alleged drink driver crashes on Frankton Road
A male driver was charged with driving with an excess breath alcohol level - allegedly blowing 844mcgs, and careless driving after a minor crash on Frankton Road at 3.20am on 8 June. Wilkinson says the driver allegedly hit a crossing island near the Z Service Station, crashing into the metal barrier. He will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 21 June.
Failing to stop for Police
A 33-year-old Queenstown man has been charged with driving while suspended after allegedly failing to stop for Police in Hawthorne Drive just after midnight on Sunday, 9 June. Police didn’t pursue the vehicle due to the danger, but later located the car nearby, Wilkinson says.
Icy winter road warnings
Police are starting to deal with the usual icy crashes as winter kicks in on the Crown Range and drivers are being warned to beware of black ice and icy surfaces on the Crown Range, Malaghans Road and bridge decks around the district. Even before the thick of winter, conditions have been potentially treacherous. “It’s been pretty icy,” Wilkinson says. “Black ice catches all drivers out, locals as well as visitors, and people need to be very cautious around known black spots.”
Chain breaker
The snow may not have arrived yet, but Wilkinson says it’s time for drivers to break out those chains and have a few practice runs at home. “Dust those chains off. Familiarise yourself now and make sure you know how to put them on,” he says. “Don’t wait to learn out in a snowstorm.”
The credit card won’t cut it
Drivers should also allow more time to clear their windscreens in the mornings now with the freezing overnight temperatures. “We sometimes see people driving in to work with a little hole scraped clear on their windscreen,” he says. “Get up a little earlier and defrost your car so that you have a clean, clear windscreen when you’re driving in darkness and through icy patches.” There are some good road reports, like the QLDC Winter Road Report, and he’s urging people to subscribe and be prepared.
