Get mobile alerts about crime in your neighbourhood

People can now get alerts directly sent to their mobile phones if there are increased reports of crime in their area.

Using information provided by police, Gets Ready, an online database recognised by Civil Defence can be used by district councils and neighbourhood support groups to share information and warnings during emergencies.

• More police on patrol after spike in vehicle break-ins
• Fewer burglaries over the holidays after major police initiative

The purpose-built web system allows residents to securely record their contact details, and any special needs, resources and skills they want to share to help their local community during an emergency.

But more recently, the database is being used to alert people who have registered, about increased crime in their neighbourhoods, also known as ‘risk location updates'.

The information is provided by police, based on reports they have received.

This week, Addington residents on the database received a text or email telling them their area had been a hot spot for vehicle thefts recently.

"In the last week there has been a high concentration of unlawful motor vehicle takes in the Addington area," the update read. 

"All have occurred within a 1km radius.

"Four vehicles were targeted in one night in a public car park, and four vehicles were taken on separate occasions while parked on the road.

"Seven of the nine takes occurred on Monday and Tuesday evening."

On Tuesday, police said it was increasing patrols in Halswell due to the increasing number of vehicle break-ins in the suburb and wider south Christchurch area.

In the past week, residents in several streets in Northcote, Avonside and Halswell were also alerted to their area being a hot spot for burglaries, based on police reports.

It also comes after it was revealed last month a major police initiative targeting youth offenders saw break-ins drop by more than a third over the summer holiday period.

Additionally, burglars may find their jobs are getting even harder if a new initiative by Canterbury Police is successful.

Following favourable results by police departments in the United States, police are providing daily reminders on their social media to lock up belongings.

The #9pmRoutine aims to get people in the practice of checking their vehicle, homes and valuables are secured every night, including sheds and doors windows, and checking security lights are working.

Using humour, photos of police dogs and ‘memes,’ the hashtag #9pmroutine has engaged thousands of people globally both on the Canterbury Police Facebook page and social media pages of various US state police departments.

Visit Gets Ready.