Katikati Police report boat theft and burglaries during January

Katikati Police dealt with a string of thefts and burglaries during the second half of January, prompting Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh to remind residents to be vigilant and look out for their neighbours. "If you don't lock it, you could lose it," he said, urging people to call 111 if an incident is happening or 105 to report one after the fact.

Among the incidents, a 2020 Kingfisher 370 MINICAT aluminium boat with a 25hp E-TEC Evinrude outboard motor was stolen from a Brookby Place address in Katikati on 24 January. A separate small boat moored in the Uretara River had its Parsun outboard motor, cover, and boat tank stolen between 15 and 24 January. Equipment including a site radio, solar panel, inverter, and battery set-up was also stolen from a building on State Highway 2 at Minden, and a trailer was taken from a Borrell Road address at Te Puna before being recovered at another Te Puna address. A number plate was reportedly stolen from a vehicle parked at the Ōmokoroa Wharf.

Police also made several arrests during the period. A 40-year-old Te Puna man was arrested on 21 January on a prison recall warrant, and a 33-year-old Katikati woman was arrested on 25 January following an incident at a Katikati address, facing charges including assaulting Police, wilful damage, excess breath alcohol, careless driving, and escaping Police custody.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).