February 20 DECORATIVE concrete bollards at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Te Kūiti were damaged outside school hours.
February 21 POLICE are investigating the theft of a personal bag from a car parked in a Te Kūiti retail carpark. The contents of the bag were removed, but the bag was returned to its owner through the intervention of a member of the public.
February 22 A CABIN was set on fire during a family harm incident in Wharepūhunga, Ōtorohanga district. Police are investigating the incident, which is understood to have occurred during an argument and caused damage to the contents of the cabin.
February 23 A COMMERCIAL burglary was reported at a Waitete Rd, Te Kūiti property, which likely occurred on February 21. Targeted items included equipment, off cuts and scrap metal, all which were secured in a locked cage. Police believe due to the nature of the stolen items that more than one person and vehicle is likely to have been involved. Relevant enquiries are being followed, including the review of CCTV footage.
February 25 POLICE apprehended a 19-year-old man who was found with a horse stolen from an Ōtorohanga community group. The public assisted with resolving the situation, police say. The man is expected to appear in court in due course.
A TE KŪITI man was arrested as the result of a family harm incident. The 33-year-old has already appeared in Hamilton District Court on charges of contravening a protection order, assault on a person in a family relationship, wilful intimidation and other related matters. He is due to appear in Te Kūiti District Court at the end of the month.
February 26 THE driver involved in a significant car crash in Te Kūiti walked away with no serious injuries after crashing through a garden, street signs, clipping the archway of the memorial bridge on King St East and coming to a stop after colliding with a railing with enough force to break a mains water pipe. The driver was treated at the scene by paramedics and members of the public, who controlled traffic until the road could be closed. The circumstances of the crash are being investigated.
TWO youths were disturbed interfering with a vehicle parked at Te Kūiti Hospital during the weekend. A quarter light window on the vehicle was smashed. Those responsible were not able to be identified.
February 27 POLICE urge rural communities to be aware of suspicious activity around their properties while agricultural equipment remains a hot commodity for criminals. Enquiries are continuing into a burglary in the Kōpaki area in which a quad bike was stolen from a shed sometime between February 24 and 27. Police recommend sheds, bikes and agricultural equipment are secured as best as possible and any suspicious vehicles or behaviour is reported as it happens.
POLICE were called to nine family harm episodes in Ōtorohanga and six in Te Kūiti between February 21-28.
