Wānaka Police say members of the public should get in touch if their property is graffitied.

Last week one of the local cafes was targeted in an incident where one of its mirrors was etched with graffiti, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.

“It may seem trivial, but it is wilful damage to a person’s property,” she said.

Any intentional damage to property should be reported, she added. 

“It is a simple process of completing a report online so that we have an understanding of where the damage is occurring, so that we can hold offenders to account to get in front of the issue.”

“Graffiti, vandalism and wilful damage ultimately costs,” Fi said.

In addition to the graffiti, over the past week Wānaka Police have dealt with a range of incidents including family harm, breach of the peace, drink-driving and scams.

Last Saturday (September 7) a male was arrested and charged with assaults on a person in a family relationship and wilful damage. He appeared in court in Queenstown on Monday.

Family harm includes physical, sexual and psychological harm within family relationships. 

“Our calls for service are steady,” Fi said.

On Monday (September 9) Wānaka Police were called to a breach of the peace at the Albert Town camping ground because of a “rowdy camper”. 

“Campgrounds are interesting because there are so many different types of campers who camp for different reasons. The people who are there to escape and relax understandably don’t gel with the people who are there to socialise. Not everyone in a campground is on the same page, our advice is simply to be considerate,” Fi said. 

Breath testing was undertaken in the past week by both the Impairment Prevention Team (IPT) and Wānaka Police, who continue to find people driving under the influence.

IPT screening last Thursday (September 5) resulted in three excess breath alcohol readings (EBAs), including two “high readings” of 728mcg and 670mcg (250mcg is the legal limit).

Wānaka Police on Friday night (September 6) stopped a number of vehicles and found three “high” EBAs of 867mcg, 911mcg and 650mcg.

On Sunday night (September 8) a male driver was apprehended for speeding on the Luggate-Cromwell Road. He underwent breath alcohol procedures which resulted in a 457mcg reading.

A range of tools were reported stolen overnight last Monday (September 2). The reported incidents show that “prevention is the best way to get in front of the issue”, Fi said.

She reminded members of the public to make their items “unattractive and unavailable” following a spike in theft complaints last week.

People should make their tools unattractive to thieves by “engraving, recording, securing and reporting”.

Scams and fraud continue to be an issue, Fi said.

Members of the public can visit Netsafe to learn more about how to protect themselves from online scams.

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.

Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Wānaka App