Several burglaries had been reported in each town this month and in April, and information from the public helped apprehend two offenders in Roxburgh and one in Alexandra, Central Otago sub area supervisor Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said.
Snr Sgt Kerrisk said there had been four burglaries in Roxburgh last month, which was a ''concern'', but it was pleasing two arrests had been made and property taken from homes had been recovered.
Three houses had been entered. Items were taken from two of the houses, and in the third, items were collected together but not taken, possibly because the offenders had been disturbed. A fruit stall honesty box was jemmied open and cash taken.
There had also been several burglaries in Alexandra over the period, but that did not represent a ''sudden increase'' in the number of burglaries in the district, Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
The crime rate in Central Otago remained low when compared with national crime statistics, he said.
Five burglaries were reported in Alexandra in April, although one was found to have been a misunderstanding and was not a burglary. A 29-year-old man was apprehended by police near the scene of two other reported house burglaries. He was arrested and the stolen property recovered. Another burglary, which involved a bicycle being taken from a yard, is still being investigated. A commercial premises was also burgled, and food items taken.
This month, there a burglary at a house in Alexandra and one at a commercial premises. Both were being investigated, Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
In Cromwell, cash was taken from a commercial premises in Bannockburn this month, and another commercial premises in the Old Cromwell Historic Precinct was broken into but nothing taken.
As always, police advised homeowners and residents to be vigilant with their home security and report suspicious behaviour. Police advised people to keep properties and vehicles secure by locking doors and windows and keeping valuables hidden away, Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
People were encouraged to phone police immediately if they felt something ''wasn't right'', rather than wait until later to report their concerns.
Anyone with information about any of the recent burglaries can contact Alexandra police on (03) 440-2500 or phone the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555-111.
