Police updates on crimes and investigations for 12 December 2022.
Fatal crash, Lake Coleridge
One person has died following a single-vehicle crash on Harper Road, Lake Coleridge, on Friday night.
Police were called to the scene about 10.25pm.
One person died at the scene, while three others sustained injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
Operation Presence, Road Policing Operation, Bay of Plenty
Police operated a number of checkpoints across the Bay of Plenty District last Thursday in a road policing operation aimed at reducing harm on the district’s roads.
Bay of Plenty Road Policing Manager, Inspector Brent Crowe says all four areas – Western Bay of Plenty, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Taupō and Rotorua – took part in the operation.
“It was clear people appreciated our staff being out there ensuring everyone’s safety on the roads and it was great to get the support and positive feedback from the community,” Inspector Crowe says.
There was a highly visible presence across the roading network, and all drivers stopped were breath-tested for the presence of alcohol.
“The majority of motorists were doing all the right things – wearing their seatbelt, not driving while impaired, not using cellphones when driving, and driving to the conditions and speed limits.
“Unfortunately, there were still some who were putting themselves and others a risk. Two drivers were apprehended in Ōpōtiki before midday, both returning alcohol results well over the limit.”
Inspector Crowe says in the leadup to Christmas and over the summer period motorists can expect to see Police carrying out similar operations.
“The more we can be out there influencing behaviours like wearing seatbelts, not speeding, driving free of distraction and not driving while impaired, the safer we all are.”
Police’s advice to anyone who is in any doubt about whether they’re safe or legal to drive is simple – don’t do it.
Police will have a presence on roads across the country right throughout the summer, to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely.
Explosive devices don’t make good geocaches
Police and the NZ Defence Force urge people setting up geocaches to put a little thought into the items they leave for other Geocachers to find, especially if it could be mistaken for an explosive device.
Geocaching is an internet-based treasure hunt using GPS co-ordinates, which began in the US in September 2000.
Geocaches are devices fitted with GPS, hidden in containers, the co-ordinates of which can be found online and the challenge is to find them.
Sometimes clues are hidden in objects left in plain sight.
A geocache clue was placed in what appeared to be an explosive device and left on a Nelson park bench on 7 December, sparking a Police and NZDF response, which led to significant disruption including street closures.
Police don’t want to spoil people’s fun, but we’d like them to avoid making geocaches that look suspicious – especially if they look like explosive devices.
Please apply some common sense to where you put them and be aware that people will come looking for them and may be disrupting others, especially in urban areas.
Geocaches cannot be left on private property without permission of the landowner.
The NZDF maintains a permanent response to any part of New Zealand, 24/7, 365 days a year to assess, remove, or destroy any potentially hazardous explosive items.
If you do find any suspicious or potentially dangerous items please contact Police immediately and do not touch them.
Further advice on dealing with suspicious or potentially dangerous items is available on the Police website.
Lol what a bunch of hysterical ninnies…