Crimeline has changed. The report is now written by the Wānaka App, based on a weekly police media briefing.

Wānaka Police say a burglary, a car accident and two search and rescue call outs took place over the past week.

The burglary took place at the Northbrook Retirement Village last Thursday (February 15), detective Shaun McClinktock said.

Two “brand new” outdoor dining chairs were stolen from the exterior of the property but the perpetrator did not appear to have entered the house. 

Police are investigating the matter.

Shaun said a driver was lucky to avoid any injuries in a car accident on McKay Road on Tuesday (February 20).

A tourist was driving their rental vehicle on the short gravel road that connects the Luggate-Tarras Road and Kane Road, “going too fast”.

“They lost control and collided with a truck and ended up in a ditch on the side of the road,” he said. 

He said it was “very similar circumstances” to an accident which took place on Domain Road earlier this month.

In that incident, the driver left the sealed section of road and lost control on the gravel. While the car flipped there were only minor injuries. 

Shaun said Wānaka Police wanted to remind the public that the speed limit for driving past a stationary school bus is 20kph.

He said with roadworks there is a lot of traffic on Ballantyne Road but drivers should be aware there are still school buses stopping to pick up kids.

There will be some extra patrols in the area, he said. 

Shaun said there had been a couple of search and rescue (SAR) incidents in the past week.

One person sustained a back injury after a paragliding incident.

The person was competing in an event on Friday night (February 16) and the accident happened off Buchanan’s Peak in Mount Aspiring National Park, he said.

SAR was also deployed on Sunday night (February 18) after trampers were late returning from a trip to Brewster Hut. 

The trampers were able to make their way back to the hut but it was unclear whether that was before SAR arrived or with their help.

Shaun thanked SAR, a volunteer-run organisation, for attending the incidents. 

There is still a lot of lost property at the police station and more dropped off there every day.

If the station is closed, anyone with items to drop off can put them in the dropbox located outside the main doors, which is emptied daily.

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