PHOTO/FILE
HAYLEY GASTMEIER
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A spate of burglaries in Greytown has prompted a community meeting where residents will also discuss how they can rally to get their police station reopened.
Last week, police said there had been several residential and vehicle break-ins in the town, which was usually relatively quiet on the crime front.
In light of this, police have increased their presence in Greytown, with a local man arrested so far in relation to one of the burglaries.
TeRina Kaiwai is calling a meeting at the Greytown Town Centre on August 22 at 7pm.
She said the main reason for the gathering was to get the community networking.
With a lot of elderly people living in the town and many people who did not live there permanently, everyone needed to look out for each other.
“There’s so many people now living in the town, we’re not actually looking over our fences and saying hello to our neighbours anymore,” Kaiwai said.
“Even though they have caught somebody, I think it’s a good idea to still get together.”
She said she would like to see a police station reinstated in the town, and she’d be floating this idea with residents at the meeting, with the potential of starting a petition.
Police stations at Greytown and Martinborough were closed during restructuring in January 2014.
Wairarapa still has stations at Featherston, Carterton and Masterton.
Kaiwai said having a dedicated Greytown policeman would mean they were always in the loop and would have a good rapport with the community.
The town’s residents did not deserve the recent surge in break-ins, she said.
“Our community is bigger and better than this, and we don’t have to put up with it.”
Masterton-based Detective Sergeant Matt Wasson said there had been an “obvious increase” in burglaries in the town.
“We treat those very seriously.”
He said police had been in the community talking to residents, which had resulted in one arrest, and enquiries were continuing.
Wasson said it was important for people with holiday homes in Greytown to ensure their properties were properly secured in their absence.
He asked all residents to look out for their neighbours.
“If people see someone acting in a suspicious or unusual manner then they need to call the police.”
Every town, big or small needs Police presence, walking the streets as well. Even locals walking the streets and reporting the odd things seen to the Police to check out..