1.    In one night there were quite a few theft ex cars around the Dressage Lane area. The right procedure to follow if this were to happen to you is to phone the North Shore Policing Centre on 4775114 and make an appointment with SOCO (the fingerprint team) who will print your car whilst you can fill out the complaint at the counter. Please still notify me as I do want to know what is happening. It is very important to get your car printed (even if nothing much is taken from your car) as we do get fingerprint hits. The best prevention is of course to not have anything in your car that is attractive to thieves.

2.    There is an issue at the Upper Harbour Drive exit turning right onto Albany Highway with the traffic on Albany Highway not complying with the right turning arrow (to go onto Upper Harbour Drive) and driving straight, hereby blocking the right turning traffic coming of Upper Harbour Drive. This is leading to frustration and I have received many calls and emails about it. There will be an operation on this intersection over the next few weeks so hopefully the issue will ease.

3.    Many pieces of mail/packages were found to be opened around the Outlook Rd/Isobel/Oakford Park area. This happened on the 26th April and was reported before midday. If anyone saw anything, please contact me.

4.    I still have the Kawasaki Motorbike key with the key ring with RACHEL on it.

5.    Historically domestic incidents increase over winter as people are inside a lot more. If incidents happen and you hear it, please do not hesitate to report these incidents. In NZ most homocides are domestic related. The reporting can be done completely anonymously.

6.    There is an email address set up that we are trying to get as many people as possible to subscribe to. This email address will be used to send out any urgent news/alerts, etc. If your dog goes missing and many other things (except advertising) can be published on it. So far about 700 people have subscribed to it. There is still some work to be done but in the meantime I would urge every one of you to send an email to subscribe. One can subscribe by following the link on greenhithe.org.nz/newsletter.

7.    Last but not least. If one gets their jewellery valued at Gemlab, Gemlab actually marks the jewellery so in case of one losing an item and it gets handed in to Police, we can find the owners as Gemlab has the details.

Stay safe

We were blessed with beautifully sunny weather for the ANZAC DAY commemorative service at War Memorial Park this year.  Thanks to everyone who came along and showed the genuine support the community has for such a special day.  The ANZAC spirit is remembering and honouring at the same time.  Though there would be much we would rather forget…we dare not forget the price of peace.

Volunteer firefighters…in the last Village News we told you that we were looking to recruit up to five new members.  Who are we?  We are among over 7,000 volunteer firefighters from every corner of the country who dedicate themselves to preventing fires and protecting the communities we live in, but there's more to us than responding to emergencies.  Our vision is to work with communities to protect what they value and our mission is to reduce the incidence and consequence of fire and to provide a professional response to other emergencies.  As volunteers we come from all walks of life and we are trained for our role with courses that cover the diverse skills of modern firefighting and emergency response.  The nature of the emergencies we attend are as varied as the people who call for us.  If you are interested in getting to know your local Fire Brigade better and are considering joining, please send an email to Steve.Hey@fire.org.nz.  We’re holding a familiarisation evening on Monday 21 May at 7pm and it would be great to have as many people along that night as possible.

In brigade news this month…nine brigade members are fired up for a cause (the New Zealand Leukaemia and Blood Foundation) and are gearing up to race up 51 flights of Sky Tower stairs in full breathing apparatus gear.  Please do help us to support a great cause http://www.firefightersclimb.org.nz/view_group_event_profile/225

Concluding word…fire is a good servant but a bad master

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

An installed smoke alarm that is not working, offers no warning. I hope you remembered to check your batteries and dust and vacuum all your smoke alarms on daylight savings. If you don’t have any installed, please do not delay in ensuring you have at least one working smoke alarm in your home…working smoke alarms save lives!

ANZAC DAY…we will be holding a short ANZAC Day commemorative service at War Memorial Park on Roland Road on Wednesday 25th April. Everyone is welcome. Start time 9am with coffee/tea afterwards at the Old School Building, courtesy of the Greenhithe Lions.

We are currently recruiting…since 1958 the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade has been an essential part of Village life. We can offer adrenalin, big trucks, camaraderie, training, discipline, social networks, service honours and family get-togethers. Learn some great skills, make some great mates, have some fun and serve your local community.

We are now looking to recruit up to five new members. Want to know more? Come along to an information evening on Monday 21st May, 7pm at the Fire Station. If you have any questions before then, please send an email to Steve.Hey@fire.org.nz.

In Brigade news this month, we are fired up for a cause! This year on May 19th, nine members from the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade will again be participating in the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge. This involves racing up 51 flights, or 1,103 Sky Tower stairs wearing full firefighting kit. It is a challenging event both mentally and physically, but we are more than happy to put ourselves through a few minutes of pain as it gives us a chance to help out a great cause and raise funds for the New Zealand Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (LBF).

You too can support your local Fire Brigade by going to the link listed below and making a donation and/or offering a word of support to the guys who will be training hard over the next few weeks in preparation for the big event. 100% of all funds raised go directly to the LBF. http://www.firefightersclimb.org.nz/view_group_event_profile/225

Thanks heaps for your support!!

Concluding word…discretion is the better part of valor.

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

IMPORTANT!!!!

BURGLARY RATE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF:

• During the end of March and first week of April there were at least 5 reported burglaries in Greenhithe. The houses were on Rame Rd (2 in one afternoon), 2 in Roland Rd (not on the same day), 1 in Greenhithe Rd. In all cases jewellery, laptops and cash were the main items taken. Entry was gained through the master bedroom in most cases, with windows/doors jemmied or even broken. It appears that many new houses do not have alarm sensors in the bedrooms, yet here is where most people are still keeping their jewellery and other valuables. Greenhithe is a wealthy area and by now the burglars probably have a taste for the area as their "loot" has been very worthwhile in most cases. So: PLEASE do not keep your jewellery in the bedroom (or cash) as yes, this is still the first area burglars go to. Go and get a safe (at a bank) if you don't use the jewellery or put it somewhere else where it is not going to be found within 5 minutes.
• GEMLAB on Constellation Drive does valuations.. At least get it valued and photographed as at least Police can check with Goldbuyers and second hand shops whether your jewellery might have been bought up by them.
• Get another sensor in your bedroom if you have not got one there, it will work as a deterrent.
• Go to SNAP.ORG.NZ and register your serial numbers. Too few people register them and during search warrants we come across many stolen goods but end up having to give them back to the crims as we can't prove they have been stolen. On SNAP at least if your PC gets stolen or breaks down, you can always access the website to retrieve the information.
• Back up photos, work etc on discs/memory sticks as in most burglaries mentioned above, the victims have lost photos, uni-work or other work of value.

POSSIBLE SUSPECTS IN ONE OF THE BURGLARIES:  At one house a black Audi was sighted, 2004-2007 model, male Maori, around 40 years old was in the drivers seat. He was with a European female, very thin, quite tall, black (prob dyed) hair shoulderlength, they even signed for a package which was being delivered to the address. If anyone has seen anything please let Police know. It does not mean that they will still be using this vehicle but it is a possibility.

KEYS FOUND: keys have been spotted on the Tauhinu Rd overbridge. It has a tag with RACHEL on it. Give me a ring if they are yours?

CRIMESTOPPERS: 0800 555 111

Speak up, it's anonymous, tell us what you know, not who you are and help make our community safer!!

TIPS: go to the website of the neighbourhood watch. There are many good/handy tips on it.

WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS  and do not hesitate to call 4775000 if you see something suspicious but feel you don't want to phone 111 or ofcourse phone 111.

Enjoy your holidays and stay safe

I have been told there have been at least 2 incidents in Greenhithe  over the last few weeks whereby children have been asked directions to Wainoni Park and the Dairy and the kids have been invited into the car. The kids in question apparently did not get in the car which is great. Not so great is that as far as I am aware it has not been reported to Police. Anyone who has more information in relation to these incidents are advised to report it to myself or any Police Station. Questions are: What type of car/colour/2 or 4 door/tidy or untidy car/ what did the person look like : race/build/hair colour and  curly or straight/facial hair/eyecolour/how did they speak (accent or not?) and what did they exactly say?

The give way rules are changing as of 5am on 25 March 2012. The NZTA website includes a video and a quiz so one can test themselves on their knowledge. The website to go to is www.giveway.govt.nz.

The best numbers for you to ring - a) immediate serious concern about something 111 b)Unsure if it is dodgy, but it feels like it is, but Police should know phone 4775000. I would still appreciate being told about it as well. I know I seem to keep on hammering on about it but it still happens on a daily basis that I have messages left on my answerphone in relation to incidents that should have been directed to either 4775000 or 111 at the time it occurred.

Don't forget it is  GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD month.  I know I have put this in last month but just a reminde. As you might have noticed, a lot of neighbourhood support signs are being removed from streets. This is happening to the streets that have NO neighbourhood support logged. As in March there is the "Get to know your street" campaign, run by the Greenhithe Community Trust, this might be a wonderful opportunity to start one up (again). More details in regards to this campaign can be found in this issue of the newsletter. If one is interested in setting up a group, please work out if you want to be a street coordinator and take as many names/addresses/phone numbers/emails down to make the actual set up process easier. If you want more information please don't hesitate to contact me or John Stewart at admin@neighbourhood.org.nz.

Found keys: On the 26th of Feb a set of car keys were found on the cnr of Rame and Almond Grove. Please phone me if these might have been yours.

Speak up, it's anonymous, tell us what you know, not who you are and help make our community safer!!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you’re all well rested and have enjoyed a much-needed summer break.  I’m not sure summer has officially arrived just yet, but it must come at some stage…surely!

A quick article this month as we start the year on a very sad note for the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade, for the Greenhithe community as a whole, and of course, for the extended Martin family.

Grant Martin was tragically killed as a result of an accident in Otorohanga on Thursday 5th January.  Grant was just shy of 50 and died well before his time.  Grant was bought up in Greenhithe and spent a large part of his life here.  The Martin family were synonymous with our community and Rex, Grant’s father was well known as the Greenhithe ‘Sherriff’.  

Rex, his brother Trevor, Grant and his brother Tony all joined the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade at various stages.  Grant served 15 years and is a life-honourary member of the Brigade.  Rex served an amazing 33 years, many as Chief, and is still the second longest serving member in the Brigade’s history.  Between the four Martin family members who joined the Brigade, they served a total of 67 years, which is an outstanding commitment to community service and to the Greenhithe community.

On behalf of the past and present members of the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade, I’d like to extend our sincere condolences to the Martin family.  We are truly sorry for your loss but are immensely proud to have served with Grant...he will be remembered.

Regular communications resume next month…all the best for a great 2012…stay fire safe!

DCFO Gareth Wallis