Media Release
9 July 2001

Ban The Burglar Programme Gains Momentum

Ban the burglar, the initiative launched last year which uses the combined resources of Neighbourhood Support, Victim Support and the police to keep our communities safe, is gaining momentum this month with the launch of Ban the Burglar Kits for schools.

The programme will be launched by the Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis who says, “Manukau is one of the most multi cultural cities in New Zealand with 154 different cultures and more non-European then European residents, many of whom speak very little English.

“This can pose a challenge when there is a need to educate people on important issues such as crime prevention. Therefore I am pleased with this very proactive initiative to develop a programme of educating children who in turn can educate their parents”.

The project to be implemented by the police will involve issuing information kits to students containing safety messages, crime prevention tips, advice on what to do if burgled, property identification stickers and police pencils.

Safer Manukau’s outgoing Co-Ordinator, Alexa Crous says, “Safer Manukau is determined to make things increasingly difficult for burglars in our city. Other measures include encouraging identification of property through property marking. Police and Safer Manukau are working with organisations to establish a regional response to identify property when thieves try to sell it.

“Safer Manukau has sponsored various neighbourhood support groups with websites to promote their work in the community, giving vital information for crime prevention. Some of these have been very successful, such as the Bucklands Beach/Pakuranga group who now run theirs in partnership with the Police.

“We hope this latest initiative will achieve a dual purpose, that of providing an important learning experience for our children, who can take home the preventative message to their parents to make their homes and families safer from the unlawful elements in our communities.”

The launch of Ban the burglar Kits for Schools will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 18 July at Manukau Civic Centre, Manukau City Council.

Ends

Media Contact
Gabrielle Hinton
Media Liaison
Corporate Communications
Manukau City Council
Phone: (09) 2628900 x 8650
Fax: (09) 2625759
Email: ghinton@manukau.govt.nz

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