BY ANUJA NADKARNI
15/03/15
Police in Mt Roskill are encouraging residents to get to know each other in a bid to bring down the suburb’s crime rate.
‘Know Your Neighbour’ is an initiative to get residents on a database to prevent serial thefts and burglaries.
As part of the project, active community member Taki Tuhaka is using the app Neighbourly to invite neighbours to become part of the conversation.
“We’re trying to get neighbours to help make their community safer by getting them to know each other and look after each other.”
Constable Owen Carl says Mt Roskill and Mt Albert are taking part in the initiative because police have identified higher volumes of easily preventable burglaries in these areas.
“The old days of people coming out and speaking to their neighbours are gone – we just want people to come out, look around, tell us and also tell your neighbour what’s going on,” says Mr Carl.
During the introductory event on March 13, police and neighbourhood patrollers walked door-to-door and handed out information leaflets with complimentary tea bags, says Mr Carl.
“It’s got all the emergency numbers on it. Great to have in your house – put it on your fridge. And if you do feel like bringing your neighbour in, there’s a tea bag too.”
Mr Tuhaka says the more people are familiar with each other, the more they will protect one another.
Some 207 cases of unlawful entry with intent of burglary were recorded in residential parts of central Auckland from last October to December, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Mr Tuhaka and Constable Carl hope to meet with community members regularly.
anujanadkarni 