Students live in fear after threats, burglaries

Some students flatting in Dunedin’s Hyde St say they are living in fear  after being threatened  by a group of young people who recently moved to the street.

A third-year University of Otago student and Hyde St resident, who did not want to be named, said he was "scared" after a resident  of another Hyde St flat said he would shoot him and other residents because he tried to stop a fight.

"He said ‘I’m going to actually get my gun out of the car and shoot you all’."

The threat  happened about a month ago,  on the same night another student resident was "bottled in the throat", he said.

The police had been told about the incident but he believed it was not taken seriously because he was a student.

Burglaries and general aggressive behaviour had been regular events on the normally "happy" street since two groups of young people (all thought to be under 18), who were not students, moved into flats in April, he said.

"Hyde St has a bad reputation but we are all a big community here. Everyone felt safe. There were no fights. We hate fights. Then they moved in and the abuse started." 

Another resident who did not want to be named said she had seen gang members entering the flats.

The woman’s flat had been burgled  several times  since the non-student residents moved in, despite locks being changed and her flatmates being "really vigilant".

One of her flatmates had been sleeping metres away from a room which was ransacked.

"We are so scared that we are sitting here during the day with the door locked. We have the curtains always closed."

"I definitely think it is going to take someone getting really hurt for the police to have the authority to really do something."

The residents planned to move out of their flat if the trouble did not stop.

All residents spoken to by the Otago Daily Times said they had spoken to the police and the University of Otago about their concerns.

A resident said she knew the University of Otago could not do much  because the people causing the trouble were not students.

However, she was frustrated the police were not doing more.

"The police say ‘you have convicted criminals living near you, be vigilant’. We feel like saying why don’t you do something about it?"

A resident of one of the flats identified by the concerned students said his flat was "quiet".

"We just stay in our house."He was not aware of any fights on the street.

Acting Otago Coastal Area commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd said police were aware "some non-student tenants" had moved into the area, causing "issues" for police and other residents.

Police were working with students and following lines  of inquiry, and he encouraged concerned students to approach the police for help, rather than take matters into their own hands.

A University of Otago spokeswoman said the university was aware of the situation.

"The campus constable, proctor’s office and Campus Watch are aware of the current issue and are actively seeking  opportunities to intervene. This is demonstrated by recent proactive apprehensions and arrests in the area for offences including burglary, theft and wilful damage."

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz