Katikati Police Report: Drink Drivers and Break-ins Keeping Officers Busy

Katikati Police Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh is urging drivers to take care on increasingly busy summer roads and to report any concerning driving behaviour by calling 555. Several drink-driving incidents have resulted in arrests, including a 27-year-old Waikato man stopped on State Highway 2 south of Katikati on 10 November, who recorded a reading nearly seven times over the legal limit. His licence was automatically suspended for 28 days pending his court appearance. A 22-year-old Katikati woman was also charged with excess breath alcohol following a car-versus-fence crash on Park Road on 9 November.

A string of burglaries has also kept officers occupied. On 8 November, a beauty clinic on Jocelyn Street was broken into and a cash box stolen, while an electronics store in Cherry Court was burgled with a substantial amount of property taken. The Forta Leza restaurant was also broken into the same night, though nothing was stolen — likely because the offender was scared off by the alarm. A 32-year-old Katikati man was subsequently arrested on 12 November for the electronics shop and beauty clinic burglaries, and was also charged with breaching his current bail conditions.

Sgt Hindmarsh acknowledged there are still too many burglaries occurring in the district but said police have made progress, with several people apprehended. He encouraged the community to keep reporting suspicious behaviour by calling 111.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).