In Dannemora last Saturday, I became a part of a crime scene. There has been a major lift in burglaries recently, and particularly within the Dannemora area. The burglary I witnessed confirms a worrying trend and makes our need to be prepared and to respond that much more urgent.

I was doorknocking at 3.00 pm when there was a loud thumping sound in the close neighbourhood. About a minute later a neighbour came racing out of her home and shouted out that a house across the road had been broken into.

Another neighbour had seen a car head down the neighbouring driveway, and then shortly after rapidly back out. The thumping noise was a occupant of the car, who had leapt out, ripped a metal security screen off the door, booted the front door in ,grabbed a TV ,thrown it in his boot and exited the property. All in 30 seconds. In broad daylight, in a well looked after local street.

These invasions of our homes are very hard to accept. We have been burgled once so as we welcomed the owners home to deal with this crime I knew how wretched and vulnerable they felt.

The Police are our front line for this criminal activity, but even with a 100 extra police tomorrow ,dealing with this type of arrogance mostly fuelled by the need to get cash to buy or make drugs, there are some things we can do to protect our home and community.

If you are selling your place, and are open- homing it, make sure the agents turn the alarm back on the minute they step out the door. Agents, please take note. These people are watching your open homes.

Invest in a solid security screen, with the mesh strongly mounted to its frame. This is your first and best barrier to this type of smash and grab.

Install a dead bolt system that is not just connected to the doors locking system. Make sure the bolt is separately latched to the door frame, to give double security asnd strength to the door lock.

Keep all TVs, computers, DVD’s, stereos away from obvious view through front windows. These are the goods of choice, easy to sell for fast cash for drugs.

Set up a neighbourhood watch group, or join your residents/watch group if there is already one in your vicinity. Get active and support your neighbours and they will help you. Whatever your age there is a job everyone can do to keep your community safe.

Connect in with the crime watch patrol in your community, and ask them to work in with your activities. They are doing a great service, free of charge across the city.

If you are able to get really well organised, you may be able to set up a CCTV system within your close streets. Huntington Park set up a system, but to be effective it requires monitoring and keen volunteers within the community to ensure this.

There are many other actions to minimise this type of crime occurring, but I have no doubt that a community, acting together, communicating and keeping an eye out is much lees likely to be the target of these criminals than one that is not organised.

Don’t worry and wait. Get organised, make a stand for your home for your street.

Len Brown,

Mayoral Candidate, Manukau City,2007.

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