New Retail Crime Cops in Action

Police said a new team of cops will be regularly patrolling the Eastern Bay on foot, to deter retail crime.

Eastern Bay retailers will be seeing increased police patrols on foot with a new "BEAT Cop" team.

Acting Sergeant Dave DeLangen, Constable Cailtin Cornelissen and Constable Rangi Rapana will be out in the community to provide a stronger, more visible police presence that residents and shop owners can easily approach.

Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon said the moniker "BEAT" refers to an old policing term of walking a beat, which this team will emulate. 

The team will patrol crime hotspots including Whakatāne CBD, Kopeopeo, Edgecumbe, and Ōpōtiki. 

The team will also support smaller retailers across the region, including dairies and service stations along state highways between towns.

Mackinnon said the goal is to provide a stronger, more visible police presence that residents and shop owners can easily approach.

“People often see a lot of patrol cars driving around, but they don’t see enough of the human face of the police in town."

“You can expect to see that more. They’re there as a visible deterrent, they’re there to support the retailers, support the community, but also catch and apprehend those amongst us who are not so honest," he said. 

The BEAT team with Community Constable Rob Jones and Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon on the first day of operation

DeLangen said the team are "Excited to get the BEAT team up and running, and out on the street."

He said the team will be focusing on building a relationship with shopkeepers and addressing issues they are facing. 

"Essentially just getting the trust and confidence from the community and the shopkeepers, finding one offender that's targeting lots of places or repeat offenders, dealing with them, arresting them, holding them to account."

"They'll see some offenders being held to account for shoplifting, hopefully get those numbers down," he said. 

Members of the public are encouraged to approach the officers while they are out in the community.

“They’re quite approachable and friendly, so feel free to say g’day,” said Mackinnon.

The team will operate daily, with some weekend and late shifts "for the evening shopping in the community, so they're not too far away."

The public will still need to call 111 for an emergency or 105 for minor issues or issues that have already happened.