Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie O’Brien says Police officers working dedicated area patrols to prevent burglaries in the Horowhenua area last week caught a recidivist offender with help from a quick-thinking caretaker.
On Thursday 3 July the Old Horowhenua Hospital complex was targeted with an offender cutting the main water supply to the site.
Senior Sergeant O’Brien says the burglary was discovered by workers on Friday morning and the damage repairs were estimated to be around $20,000. A plumber had to be called to reconnect the water supply to the building.
“At about 9am on Saturday 5 July police were called to a burglary in progress by a caretaker at the hospital complex. Police arrived to find a male running through the back fence of the complex. He had fled the premises allegedly leaving a substantial amount of copper piled up in sacks ready to go.”
Senior Sergeant O’Brien says Police made immediate area enquiries and this work encouraged the suspect to report to the station and hand himself in.
“Over several months the Old Horowhenua Hospital has been targeted by burglars removing copper pipes from within the buildings and under the floors.
“While the site is no longer a hospital it is still the offices for community organisations such as The Horowhenua Learning Centre, and Life to the Max who rely on the building for their daily work.”
Senior Sergeant O’Brien says the burglaries have caused thousands of dollars of damage and cutting and stealing pipe undermines the infrastructure of the building which can lead to further damage.
The offender responsible has been charged with five counts of burglary and will appear in the Levin District Court today.
“Police would like to thank the public for their help in locating the person responsible for the burglaries and damage. Their quick thinking alerting police immediately made all the difference.
“We continue to encourage members of the public to contact us if you see any suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the community.
“Please contact Police on 111 immediately with as much information you can safely gather if an offence is currently in progress,” says Senior Sergeant O’Brien.
Information can be reported in non-emergencies or afterwards online at 105.police.govt.nz , clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.