The Mosgiel family — whose plight was made public when their shed was deliberately torched last month — made the claims after documents released to the Otago Daily Times showed police were called to 24 incidents at their house over a four-year period.
The family told the ODT through an interpreter they felt police did not take their concerns seriously and were at one point told to deal with the issues they were facing themselves.
They said one officer accused a member of the family of faking a burglary as part of an effort to be placed in a better Kāinga Ora home.
They said that officer later apologised.
They questioned whether police actions may have been due to "prejudice".
Southern district investigations manager Detective Inspector Shona Low did not respond to specific accusations, but said local police engaged with the family at the centre of this investigation on numerous occasions during the investigation.
"I’m confident that our staff have worked hard to try and get a resolution for the family and I’m confident that they have done so without prejudice."
Det Insp Low also confirmed police have shelved the investigation into the shed fire without making an arrest.
"Police have exhausted lines of inquiry in the investigation into this incident and we are in the process of case completion."
The police file — which covers a period between March 2019 and July 3 this year — details a catalogue of harassment against the family, including arson, verbal abuse, burglary, assault and vandalism.
Police said several incidents had been resolved and the youth offenders dealt with.
The documents reveal an apparent arson attempt only two weeks before the shed in their Murray St property was deliberately torched last month.
A male family member, who asked not to be named, said the harassment had taken a toll on his children.
"The little one, he has nightmares all the time of someone breaking into the house and his bed catching on fire.
"My kids should have the right to live peacefully."
He was frustrated police had failed to find the perpetrators of many of the incidents, despite the fact the family had invested in a CCTV system.
He said an officer investigating the theft of cash from their house in August 2021 accused his wife of staging the crime to get moved to a better house.
However, the CCTV ruled her out as a suspect.
"When they looked further, there was a difference in height and the shape of the body.
"So they said it’s not my wife but it might be someone from the community helping us out."
The man said in a later meeting with police, the family complained about how they were treated, after which the officer went to their home to apologise.
He said the family had been targeted by local children throwing eggs at them and their house, as well as rocks being thrown through their windows.
The children apologised and promised to stop the harassment, but it kept happening.
When the family gave police pictures of the children throwing things again, the man said a police officer replied saying "if it happens again don’t come to us, just go and deal with it yourself".
The situation became more sinister when members of the family started being verbally abused and physically assaulted when outside their home.
Between June and last month, the family had their CCTV cameras hacked off, an attempted arson on their back fence and people coming on to their property in the middle of the night to scream abuse at them through the front door.
The man said the campaign of harassment was not something that would be easy to forget.
"My children’s wellbeing is decreasing since we are waiting for the police to keep us safe, but that is not happening.
"All we want is to live safe," the man said.
Reported Incidents from 3 July 2023 back to 1 January 2020
3 July 2023 (6.10pm)
Occupant reports fire in a shed at the rear of the property – Emergency Services attend. Fire appears to have been deliberately lit – investigation by Fire Service and Police ongoing.
3 July 2023 (12.48am)
Occupant reports male person walking down the driveway - CCTV image, male person knows where the camera is with hand gesture at it - image released to media. Investigation by Fire Service and Police ongoing.
2 July 2023 (12.58am)
Occupant of the address called police after unknown male walked down the driveway and began knocking on the door. Occupant advised that the male person was speaking through the unopened door but not understood due to language difficulties. Person not identified, reported.
18 June 2023 (3.45pm)
Occupant reports smoke coming from the area of the back fence. Evidence of fire being started but had extinguished by the time occupant discovered it CCTV footage did not identify anyone in the area.
16 June 2023 (7.50pm)
Occupant reports CCTV camera which was attached to tree at the rear of the property had been vandalised, no offenders identified, reported
13 June 2023 (11am)
Female occupant of the address reports being verbally abused and physically assaulted in Reid Avenue. Offender drove off in a vehicle without being identified, reported.
3 April 2023 (3.10pm)
Occupant reports offensive behaviour and abuse by male and female Offenders spoken to by Police and trespassed
17 March 2023 (1pm)
Female occupant and two sons verbally abused and intimidated by male and female on the street, near their home. Area inquiries did not establish the identity of the offenders, reported.
19 January 2023 (11.23pm)
Report of occupants' vehicle being egged, and a bottle thrown at the house by male and female youth offenders. Offender/s not identified, reported.
11 December 2022 (4.45pm)
Occupants' children verbally abused on their way to the supermarket. Adult male identified and
confronted by male occupant.
6 June 2022 (5.45pm)
Report on behalf of the occupants that a rock had been thrown at the back window of the house. No offender/s identified, reported.
1 June 2022 (7.40pm)
Report that a beer bottle has been thrown breaking a window in the front of the house. Vehicle heard taking off at speed. No offender/s identified, reported.
21 May 2022 (9am)
Report that laundry area separate from the house has been entered, gas cylinder removed and thrown over the fence onto nearby playing field.
15 May 2023 (9pm)
Report someone has thrown dirt over a vehicle at the address. Dirt came from nearby garden. Offenders not identified, reported
15 May 2022 (12.22am)
Report that a stone has been thrown at a window facing the street. Window cracked. Offender not identified or located, reported
9 November 2021 (3.05pm)
Report of stones being thrown at the house and occupant being verbally abused. 11-year-old boy identified as the offender. Located and made to apologise to the informant.
9 September 2021 (8.35pm)
Occupant called Police and reported eggs had been thrown at the house and vehicle. No suspects, reported.
8 September 2021 (8.30pm)
Occupant reports bed sheets stolen from clothes-line-one located in a nearby park.
30 August 2021 (6.26pm)
Occupant reports theft of cash from front bedroom. CCTV footage shows offender, heavily disguised and obviously aware of the CCTV. Entry via front window and exit within 30 seconds with cash which was hidden in the bedroom. Offender not identified, reported.
9 June 2021(4.15pm)
Female occupant reported hearing front window being smashed and saw two boys running away to a nearby address. Two boys aged 11 and 12 years spoken to and deny any involvement. Matter reported.
8 June 2021 (6.20pm)
Occupant reports seeing two children throwing eggs at the house. Later in the day rocks were thrown at the house. Persons of interest identified but deny the offence. Case reported.
28 February 2021 (4.30pm)
Occupant reports eggs being thrown at the rear of the house. Property backs onto Peter Johnstone Park and the eggs were obviously thrown from that direction. No offenders identified. Reported
12 September 2020 (11.45am)
Occupant reports eggs being thrown at the front door, windows, and vehicle at the address Background is that three youths were taking a short cut from the playing fields to Murray Street via the complainant's property. Confronted by the complainant's son and the egg throwing occurred afterwards. Three youths dealt with by Police Youth Aid section.
12 March 2019 (3pm)
Two children from the address report incidents of bullying and altercations with two other youths. Mosgiel Police notified and matter reported.
