In the past 2 weeks there were 26 burglaries in Hamilton East and adjoining rural areas.
As shown on the map, several house break-ins occurred in areas near the Hillcrest Shops on Cambridge Rd and Sherwood Park off Old Farm Rd.
Interestingly, 15 break-ins occurred between Friday and Sunday which indicates that during the weekend there a lot of suspicious people may be walking around your flat, day or night.
So if you do go away over the weekend, make sure you lock you flat up tight.
Another matter of interest is items disappearing during parties you may host at your flat. Please beware that when you invite friends along, they often drag their mates along too. Thus often you can have complete strangers in your flat who may feel they need that i-Pod or laptop more than you do.
Offender(s) are aware students go into Hamilton's CBD on Friday and Saturday nights. Leaving your key under the mat, your doors unlocked or even open makes your flat an easy target for thieves.
Items such as laptops, digital cameras, jewellery and cash are coveted by burglars as they are easily transferable, usually for drugs .
Home security advice is available from the East Hamilton Community Policing Centre on Clyde St.
As a minimum precaution Police recommend recording the serial numbers of valuable appliances and storing them as part of Operation SNAP (Serial Number Action Project) a nationwide crime prevention initiative accessible via www.SNAP.org.nz
Recording serial numbers enables Police to identify recovered goods and return them to their rightful owners, if officers have no way of identifying goods as stolen they often have to be returned to the burglar.

Circumstances of a Burglary:
The occupants woke in the morning to find a laptop computer taken from the hallway. There were no signs of forced entry and the premises were locked at night, however the front door was found wide open.

Question from the Police:
How often do you leave your flat open / unlocked and have items stolen. If so, please communicate with your flatmates and establish who it taking care of the flat while you are away and locking the doors and windows.

If you have any information that might help Police resolve offences burglaries please call the University Constable, Nick Sickelmore on 8582792 or e-mail Nicholas.Sickelmore@police.govt.nz