Police have warned homeowners not "to place themselves at risk" by tackling burglars themselves, in the wake of the stabbing of a Nawton man who took on two female burglars on Tuesday night. The local police commander says you should "capture details and descriptions and let police respond to the problem"
In an ideal world this would be fine, but lack of police resources, and an all-too-frequent disorganised police response often force the community to take the law into its own hands in this situation. If you can't rely on the police to stop criminals, then many kiwis will rightly choose to take on the crims rather than letting them get away with the proceeds of their crimes.
Only last week my 22-year-old son, working at a local west Hamilton liquor store, chased and caught a burglar escaping with goods he'd tried to steal. When I asked him why he'd taken this risk, my son replied that the police "are useless" - "they never come, even when we give them descriptions."
In this case, when the central police station was rung about the burglary (it was after 4pm on a Friday) staff at my son's work were told to report the theft 'to the local station when it opens' (the next Monday morning).
His experience of repeated home burglaries at his nearby Dinsdale flat, with no effective police action taken, reinforced his decision to take the law into his own hands - successfully on this occasion.
While individual cops are good, hard-working people, the official police response is rubbish, and its no wonder the community take the law into their own hands in cases like these!
Agreed! The police seem to be too busy clocking up traffic offences and revenue to really care about 'real' issues in society. On the odd occassion I have needed to contact the Police, they have always come across as very arrogant and opinionated. I have lost faith in our Police force. Sad, but true.
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