POLICE have been left amazed that people are still leaving doors unlocked as investigations continue into a crimewave across Wellington.

PCSO Steve Hill said the number of incidents of thefts from vehicles and homes had risen to 60 over the past month.

A man was arrested just before 9am on Thursday (May 31) on suspicion of burglary and has since been released on bail pending further police investigations.

But PCSO Hill told Wellington Town Council on Monday that enquiries were continuing into the incidents where the majority have involved loose change being taken from vehicles.

“We have arrested one man but this still an ongoing investigation,” he said.

And he urged people to take simple – but common sense – crime reduction measures like making sure car doors are locked.

He said that every single from a vehicle in the recent wave of crime had been committed where someone had ‘just gone along and tried the door and it opened’.

“It still amazes me that people are leaving cars unlocked,” he said. “Even more so after all the messages we have been sending out.

“People are just not heeding the advice.”

PCSO Hill said that no damage was being caused to vehicles by the culprits – just small amounts of money being taken.

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.