Ryan Fleming
While compiling this list – I don’t attend every job personally – I was extremely disappointed to see an incident where a rifle was taken from a vehicle.
I cannot stress this enough. Motor vehicles are a completely unacceptable place to store firearms. The rules on this are quite clear. A firearm may not be stored in a vehicle unattended for longer than 60 minutes (allowing for a break in a journey).
If the vehicle is going to be unattended for more than 60 minutes (or the licence holder cannot meet the above conditions for leaving the items unattended in the vehicle), any firearms and ammunition must be removed to a more secure location, or under the licence holder’s direct possession and control.
The exception to this is if the vehicle is a mobile home, campervan, or caravan unit with secure storage in accordance with regulation 19A where that mobile home, campervan, or caravan unity is being used at the person’s temporary or permanent home.
Here’s how last week panned out for Te Awamutu police:
Monday – Shoplifter reported at The Warehouse. A male drove off from his house after making threats to self-harm. This incident involved significant police resources in an attempt to locate him. A female breached a Protection Order, police attended a violent family harm involving a male self-harming. This incident caused a school to go into lockdown while the incident was being resolved. Police also attended a motor vehicle collision. A male was reported to be engaging in a road rage incident that stemmed from a neighbours at war issue. A male was arrested for an assault at a family harm event, two cars were interfered with and police attended and further family harm event.
Tuesday – A motor vehicle was unlawfully taken from Pak’n Save, a person was reported missing, an assault was reported involving students, police attended a family harm matter, a mental health incident, a shoplifting, an alcohol fuelled family harm incident, and a burglary where a motor vehicle was taken. Te Awamutu police assisted in a lengthy firearms incident in Te Kuiti. At the conclusion of this incident, we recovered a loaded shotgun and a large amount of ammunition at a second scene.
Wednesday – Tagging was reported at several locations, A vehicle was taken on Ohaupo Road and, a male on bail for taking cars breached his curfew. Police served a Protection Order on behalf of the court and attended a family harm matter. Police also executed a search warrant at an address in relation to a burglary at a commercial premises. While at the scene multiple items were located from several burglaries around the Te Awamutu area. It was very satisfying ringing the victims to ask them to come and collect their property. Police also located a substantial cannabis growing operation at the scene. A 56-year-old man appeared in the Te Awamutu District Court this week on multiple charges of burglary and cannabis cultivation.
Thursday – A male was trespassed after being seen trying door handles at a commercial premises, a vehicle was taken from an address Te Awamutu, shoplifting was reported at a commercial premises. The Booze Bus came to Te Awamutu and caught two people for driving with excess breath alcohol.
Friday – Police attended a breach of the peace that occurred as a result of a civil dispute, two family harm matters, served a Protection Order on behalf of the court, attended a burglary and investigated a missing person report.
Saturday – Police attended a driving complaint, a disorder at a residential address, a male was arrested at a violent family harm incident where he allegedly attacked his family with an axe and two vehicles were interfered with. A rifle was taken from one of these vehicles. Police also attended a burglary.
Sunday – Police attended four family harm events and recovered a stolen vehicle and dealt with wilful damage.
