Crimeline: Dad with rifle near airport runway causes stir
An unwitting Queenstown dad sparked a Police alert last Thursday after members of the public saw a man with a rifle lying in the grass near Queenstown Airport.
Officers were called to off Mountain Ash Drive near the back of aerodrome at 10.55am, 10 October.
Sergeant Tracy Haggart says they located the 39-year-old man, who explained he was teaching his young son to shoot rabbits with an air rifle.
“He was spoken to and given some education about choosing more appropriate locations that aren’t in view of the public,” Haggart says.
Legally, anyone over 16 can have an air rifle but they still must be responsible and use it safely, shooting away from public view and seeking landowner permission.
Let somebody know
Two young female kayakers who sparked a Search and Rescue operation last Thursday did the right thing by giving a friend an expected return time, Haggart says.
The women, aged 18 and 20, were found in bush north of 25 Mile Creek at 2.30am on Friday. The SAR operation had been launched at 11.30pm.
“They’d told someone when they should be back at their expected destination and that person contacted us.”
The young women had gone to recover gear left behind from another trip but couldn’t locate it. They got caught out when night time arrived.
SAR volunteers, the Coastguard, a helicopter and SAR dog were deployed and they were found in the bush, unable to get back to Glenorchy Road, cold and wet, but otherwise unharmed.
Haggart says it’s important that Police are notified straight away so that plans can be put in place quickly.
“Always have a plan and give the details to someone else and have all the right equipment and safety gear so that you’re well prepared if you get caught out at night,” she says. “They told someone and that’s of paramount importance.”
Burglary and fraud
A 38-year-old Queenstown woman was arrested for burglary and fraud after a search warrant at 1.15pm on Friday, 11 October.
Police recovered property that had allegedly been stolen from Tahuna Pod Hostel on 13-15 September. Bags mainly containing ski gear, credit cards, a laptop and clothing were stolen in the burglary. The woman has been charged with burglary and using a document for pecuniary advantage and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 21 October.
While executing that search warrant, Police located a 60-year-old Christchurch man who was wanted for stealing a vehicle in Queenstown in August. He was arrested and charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and will also appear in court on 21 October.
Young teens causing havoc in early hours
Some Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country residents are fed up with teenagers as young as 14 roaming the streets in the early hours, kicking cars and rubbish skips and throwing stones at cars and trucks on Ladies Mile.
Community social media posts show growing concerns about the incidents, some at 4.30am. One resident claimed young boys up on a walking track off Ada Place, threw stones at her vehicle early one morning hitting the side and windscreen.
The posts urge anyone who knows these kids to let them know how dangerous it is, as someone travelling at 100km/hr could get seriously hurt.
Police are urging residents and witnesses to report all incidents like this involving suspicious or concerning behaviour to them. Haggart says they respond where available when incidents are reported.
“Receiving as much detail as possible describing the offenders and their actions is important to try and assist in identifying them,” she says.
People should also take note of any address they may go into or vehicles that they may be using which assists with inquiries.
Community Patrol volunteers help patrol problem areas. Police regularly carry out night-time patrols but knowing patterns and timings of any offending assists greatly in hopefully being in the right place at the right time, she says. “We rely on the public for that information.”
Parents should always know where their children are to help keep them safe and out of trouble.
Teenage boys throw drink and film female cyclist
Two teenage boys, wearing full face helmets and on a black electric motorcycle, threw a drink at a female cyclist on a cycle trail near Slopehill Road last Wednesday afternoon.
They are described as around 14 and 17 years old. Police were called about the incident, which happened at 4pm, and are appealing for information.
“If anybody knows who the males may be, or if they have had any similar issues, they should report this to the Police,” Haggart says.
A letter circulated in mailboxes in the area says the woman was assaulted by two teenage males, one filming the incident on his mobile phone, as she rode towards Frankton. The letter appeals to the community and parents to raise this with their children “so that they are made aware that there are consequences to their actions”.
Drink driving
A 19-year-old Arrowtown man allegedly blew a breath alcohol result of 932mcg after he was stopped on Hawthorne Drive at 1.23am on Saturday, 12 October. He has been charged with drink driving and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 21 October.
An 18-year-old Timaru man allegedly blew 682mcg on Hallenstein Street at 1.25am on Sunday, 13 October. Police noticed damage to the front of his vehicle, and he allegedly admitted to crashing his car earlier. Charged with drink driving, dangerous driving and as an unlicensed driver failing to comply with prohibition, he will appear in court on 1 November.
A 34-year-old Queenstown man allegedly blew 191mcg in breach of his zero alcohol driver’s licence when stopped at a Hensman Road checkpoint at 5.25pm last Wednesday, 9 October. Charged with zero licensee’s breath contained alcohol, he will appear in court on 1 November.
