Katikati Police Charge Woman After iFixed Burglary Recovery

Following the burglary of iFixed Ltd — a tech repair store on the top floor of Cherry Court on Main Road, Katikati — police executed search warrants at three Katikati addresses on Tuesday and recovered a portion of the stolen property. Senior Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh confirmed that some items taken in the iFixed break-in were found at two of the addresses searched. A 36-year-old Katikati woman was charged with burglary and was due to appear in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday, with enquiries continuing to locate two further offenders.

The iFixed break-in occurred in the early hours of 8 November, when offenders entered through an unlocked back entrance to Cherry Court, parked near the tyre shop, walked through the back door and upstairs, then smashed the bottom glass panel of the shop door to gain entry. Store owner Chama said most of the stock he had on shelves for sale was taken, though none of his customers' equipment was affected as it was secured in a safe that was not touched.

Western Bay of Plenty district councillor for Katikati-Waihi Beach, Rodney Joyce, noted that the council currently operates more than 90 monitored CCTV cameras across the Katikati district, to which police have access. Joyce added that the council had recently advertised funding grants for those wishing to install CCTV cameras in their area, and acknowledged there was a wider conversation to be had about how far that programme should extend.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).