Crimeline - teenage trouble in the 'burbs
Local parents are being urged to know where their kids are in the wee small hours with teens as young as 13 and 14 causing havoc and breaking into vehicles in Shotover Country and Hanley’s Farm this past week.
Police alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Simon Matheson says parents need to be aware of their kids’ movements and activities at all hours after three incidents with youths within four days.
Around midnight last Wednesday, 5 February, three young people forced entry into a Go Bus parked outside Shotover Primary School in the ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone. Once inside they allegedly emptied the on-board fire extinguisher throughout the bus, Matheson says.
They then allegedly used the fire extinguisher to break two large glass windows at the school.
“Senseless damage to property costs time and energy that neither education providers nor private businesses have,” he says.
Then at 12.30am on Waitangi Day, Thursday, 6 February, a male resident in Ashenhurst Way in Shotover Country heard something and looked out his window to see a youth in his vehicle parked on the street.
Matheson says the man went outside and noticed other young people gathered on the street, chasing them all away.
“The victim got in his car and found them a couple of streets away where he noticed they’d dropped a bag containing alcohol.”
Two vehicles were also damaged and one broken into on Forage Road at Hanley’s Farm on Sunday, 9 February. One vehicle was entered, and the ignition was damaged as the offenders tried to start it. Matheson says two young people are allegedly responsible. One has been spoken to by Police and the other will soon be spoken to.
“We know who it is. They’re definitely youths. We have footage.” Matheson says. “These kids are definitely under 15. These are often school nights - Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They shouldn’t be there. Their parents should know where they are.”
Police would like to hear from anyone who sees this sort of suspicious behaviour, especially at night. “Be aware and if you see things like this on the street please call the Police,” Matheson says. “
He’s warning these young perpetrators they will be held accountable. Young offenders are dealt with through the Police Youth Process, made aware of the consequences of their actions and made to help pay for damage, or volunteer maintaining local tracks or cleaning up rubbish.
Lock up vehicles in walking track car parks
Police are urging those hiking local tracks around the basin and the Central Otago region not to leave valuables in their vehicles, especially at remote car parks, after firstly four wheels, then a vehicle, were stolen from Lake Face Creek car park off Glenorchy Road overnight on 30 January.
A man parked his 2004, gold-grey Subaru Outback at the car park while he spent the night on Pigeon Island, returning the next day (31 January) to find all four wheels had been stolen.
Matheson says the man then spoke with his insurance company and over the next few days the car body also mysteriously disappeared. “Sometime over those few days someone has stolen the vehicle and it’s still missing,” Matheson says.
Police want to hear from anyone who may have spotted the vehicle or seen anything suspicious going on around that car park area.
“It’s a timely reminder with nearby tracks like Mount Crichton and Sam Summers Hut popular at this time of year,” he says. “These offenders will often break a window in each vehicle until they find something so don’t leave stuff in your car, or leave it out of view. Just be aware when leaving vehicles and property at remote locations where it’s difficult to ensure their security.”
Speeding drunk driver ploughs through fence
Alcohol and speed were to blame when a local male in his early 20s ploughed into two trees and through a fence on someone’s property after failing to take a bend driving on Risinghurst Terrace at Shotover Country at 11.45pm on Tuesday, 11 February.
The vehicle came to rest on its roof on the pavement. The driver was breath tested and allegedly blew 595mcg/l. He’s been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol and careless driving and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 17 February.
Accident air rescues
Two St John Ambulances and an Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter attended an accident on Bush Creek Road, Arrowtown, at 5.31pm on Friday, 7 February. One patient, in a moderate condition, was airlifted to Lakes District Hospital.
An injured mountain biker was also airlifted off Coronet Peak by the rescue helicopter just after 12.30pm on Saturday, 8 February. The person was flown to Lakes District Hospital with minor injuries, a St John spokesperson says.
