Drink driving on the increase
In recent weeks, King Country police have noticed a significant increase in vehicle crashes involving alcohol and of drivers being stopped over the breath alcohol limit.
Sergeant Jimmie Walker said he would like to remind drivers that consuming
alcohol prior to driving significantly increased the risk to themselves and other road users.
“As such, police will be focusing on prosecuting any drivers found to be driving under the influence of excess alcohol,” Jimmie said.
Ōtorohanga
Police have attended four family harm and two mental health incidents in the past week in Ōtorohanga.
September 19-20
Diesel valued at about $120 was siphoned from a digger on a truck parked at a business on Progress Drive.
September 21
at about 4.45pm, police attended a vehicle crash on State Highway 3, south of Ōtorohanga. Police allege that a white 2007 Ford Ranger and a 1995 red Mitsubishi L200 ute were involved in a collision, after one of the two vehicles crashed into the rear of the other as the latter was turning right.
The vehicle that was allegedly hit got shunted across the road and into a bank. After the drivers were breath-tested by police, they were both charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.
Just before 7pm, the driver of a white 2021 Toyota Hilux was breath tested after being stopped by police on SH39. He was issued with a ticket after being shown to have between 250 and 400 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Overnight on September 21 or 22, at an address on Te Kūiti Rd, Ōtorohanga, a garage door was damaged by somebody trying to force their way in, but access was not gained.
September 23
at about 10.43am, on SH3 at Ōtoro-hanga, a black Subaru Legacy station wagon was stopped by police. The driver, who failed a roadside breath test, will appear in the Te Kūiti District Court on October 9 charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.
Piopio/Benneydale
Police attended single family harm incidents at both Piopio and Benneydale.
Police attended six family harm incidents and two mental health callouts.
Te Kūiti
Between September 8 and 20, at a property on Waione Rd, Waimiha, a chain and padlock was forced at the front gate of an unoccupied property. A water tank and generator were stolen.
An unoccupied house was also entered and a quadbike, tools, weed eater, lawn mower, califont and battery were stolen.
Neighbours mentioned that they had seen lights around the property at around 3am on September 18. A red ute was also seen in the vicinity.
September 19
At around 6am, a crash involving a white Isuzu and a silver Suzuki Swift was reported at the intersection of Carroll St and Rora St. Police allege this occurred after the Suzuki driver failed to give way at a stop sign, causing a collision which did significant damage to his own car. Neither driver was injured in the crash.
At about 11pm, an attempt to break into a car was reported at an address on Mangarino St. A car’s left rear quarter light window had been smashed and its key barrel interfered with.
September 20
At about midnight, also on Mangarino St, a black 2004 Mazda 6 also had its left rear quarter light window smashed and key barrel damaged. An iPhone 8 Plus and Macbook Pro were stolen.
about 1am, at an address on South St, a white 2005 Mazda Atenza was discovered with a damaged left rear quarter light window and damage to the ignition.
Between 7.30am and 4pm, a blue 2003 Toyota Hilux, parked at the Eight Mile Junction on SH3, was broken into.
The owner had left the vehicle there on his way to work. Driving home he smelled cigarette smoke in his vehicle and, upon checking, found that his wallet was missing. The driver’s door key lock had also been damaged.
September 22
a grey Toyota Aqua rental car was broken into at about 1.40pm at the intersection of Boddie Rd and Tumutumu Rd, Waitomo. An Australian tourist’s wallet, containing prescription medicine, about $500 in cash and a bank card were stolen.
September 23 to 24
OVERNIGHT a glass front door was smashed at a commercial address on Sheridan St. Among items taken were a black Everest laptop computer, a small amount of cash, a Wahl hair dryer, a variety of hairbrushes, bottles of Wild Colour hair dyes volume developers of the same brand, capes, possibly some makeup and a Silver Bullet hair straightener. The value of goods stolen was estimated at more than $3000.
At about 10pm, police were called to Anzac St where a man was lying drunk on a resident’s back lawn. After being located by police, he was found to have a warrant out for his arrest and was subsequently arrested.
September 25
At about 3am, a burglary was reported at the NZ Post building on Rora St. It is believed that entry was gained by two people, who entered via a broken window which had been covered up with plywood. Three mail bags were stolen from inside the premises. Later that day an empty mail bag was handed in to police after being found on Te Ara Tika, the town’s pedestrian railway bridge.
