A Bay of Plenty township targeted by ram-raids and rural crime has taken a stand to keep criminals out.
After being rocked by a spate of crime, it rallied and raised $40,000 for a new vehicle for the Reporoa Community Patrol.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay praised the fundraising effort but he knew Reporoa and many other rural areas in his electorate were feeling "embattled'' and police needed more resources so people could feel safe.
The community patrol began about three years ago. "We've had a gutsful and crime is on the increase,'' chairman Bruce Vermeulen said. "We're taking a stand."
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He saluted the patrol members who worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to raise the money.
"The community has always been supportive of something they feel is worthwhile. It's been fantastic."
The business owner and ambulance officer said the most recent ram-raid was at the Farm Source Store a few weeks ago and there had been vandalism and on-farm thefts.
Trailers, motorbikes and tools had been stolen from properties and "the whole invasion thing" was upsetting. The dairy and pub were also ram-raided.
"Because we're a farming community and don't necessarily live right next door to our neighbours we still feel their pain when people get robbed or vandalised or whatever.''
It was not uncommon for the patrol to cover 1400km a month, night and day.
Patrol secretary and training officer Keren Leslie said it was a small but passionate team of farmers, engineers, horticulturists and business owners.
"We volunteer our energy and time to patrol our area, to be the ‘eyes and ears' for police. We have had a period of ram-raids in our local area lately, which has rocked our community, and we hope that our new patrol car helps in the fight against crime.
"We are there to fill the gaps, keep visible, to hopefully help prevent burglary, domestic violence, drink driving or even assisting at crash sites with traffic control."
Federated Farmers Rotorua/Taupo provincial president Colin Guyton said he had been a victim of thieves on several occasions.
"From my experience, one of the most sought-after commodities is fuel. I've had quite a lot of fuel stolen over the years and as a result of that while they are in there they take whatever else they can find."
His Reporoa farm was at least a 30-minute drive away from any police help. "In reality, our best line of attack is prevention."
He had put an alarm on his fuel tank, which deterred thieves.
Guyton said the community patrol should be congratulated for its work and dedication.
"What these guys are doing is probably going to push crime out of our area. Unfortunately, some other place is going to cop it but this is what our community has decided to do to try and help itself."
Guyton said it was extremely important people reported crimes to the police no matter how trivial. "Quite often the reporting of a suspicious vehicle or minor crime leads to the solving of a major one."
MP Todd McClay said the police were doing the very best job they could but, in his view, they were understaffed and under-resourced.
"We hear a lot of crime in and around farms and you've only got to read social media to see how bad it's getting for some of them. I've had many constituents reach out to me who are quite distraught."
The Reporoa policing area sits between Rotorua and Taupo and is geographically large, according to olice, with two main roads running through it.
