The risk of thefts from vehicles at tourist and recreations sites appears to be no greater than anywhere else, according to a report issued today.
The report, released by the Department of Conservation (DOC), found that only 0.2 percent of all vehicle crime reported to the police happened at DOC sites.
Dave Jane, DOC's manager for recreation and historic, said that even though vehicle crime was relatively low, many people carried the perception that it was on the increase.
"Although the cases are low, vehicle crime is still a concern for the department," he said. "We want people to feel safe and continue to enjoy these places."
The purpose of the study was to explore the nature of vehicle crime and understand the impact that type of crime had on visitors. Information was collected from various sources including interviews with DOC staff, backpackers, offenders and an analysis of police data.
Mr Jane said recommendations for reducing vehicle crime at recreation sites included improving lighting in car parks, installing cameras, and improving car park design to improve vision. A co-ordinated joint agency approach and guardianship of recreation sites by members of the community was also encouraged.
"There are simple measures the public can take to discourage vehicle crime," Mr Jane said.
He gave as examples hiding or taking valuables out of vehicles so that they were no longer visible, installing additional security such as car alarms and vehicle locks, and not leaving vehicles for extended periods of time.
