Reporting Crime: See something do something

Albert Einstein was quoted as saying: “If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.”

Many people in today’s society do not follow that quote. They see suspicious activity and do not report it, or intend to report it but fail to do so. By doing that you are effectively condoning what has been going on! I know that some people are frightened about becoming involved. However, if you don’t report something when you see it you are effectively giving your consent. If you see something suspicious you should contact the Police immediately. The Police can only act on the information they receive. By seeing something and doing nothing you are allowing burglars, vandals, thugs, drug sellers etc. to continue in their sordid ways. A lot of crime can be prevented and there some are really simple things we can do. Things such as reporting people or vehicles acting suspiciously. If truants are seen walking the streets, contact their school and report what you have seen. If there is a valid reason for them being out of school minimal harm has been done, but if they are truant, they could be up to no good; they could be preparing to “knock off” someone’s home. Your report could prevent that happening. By reporting suspicious behaviour you may be preventing the beginnings of a criminal lifestyle by stopping it in its tracks. Remember a big oak tree grows from a small acorn the same way a criminal starts on a life of crime with a first step, often as a youngster truant from school. Your report may be the trigger point to stop it developing into something bigger. If it is happening now call 111. If it has already happened, e.g. overnight, call 105 or go on line and make the report at: www.police.govt.nz/105support. If for whatever reason you wish to report something anonymously to the Police, contact “Crimebusters” on 0800-555-111. Neighbourhood Support Groups are encouraged to be observant and to report suspicious behaviour. This helps to reduce the crime level in Neighbourhood Support streets. In Rotorua there is a coverage of over 39 percent of the district’s occupied households, yet Neighbourhood Support covered areas have only 20 percent of the residential crime. Join a Group in your area, or if there isn’t one there, get one started, the sooner the better. For further information, contact Neighbourhood Support Rotorua on (07) 349-9470 or by email to: nsrotorua@gmail.com.