English Tourist Mugged In Gisborne

An English tourist was mugged by a man who stole her handbag in Gisborne last night, according to The Herald:

“The woman briefly struggled with the male robber about 10.30pm on Gladstone Road, between Gray and Cobden Streets, police said.

The robber was found in a car about half an hour later by a police patrol.

The 21-year-old Hastings man was arrested and charged with robbery, and would appear in Gisborne District Court today.

A 21-year-old woman from Tikitiki, 20km northwest of Ruatoria, was arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact.”

The woman, who hasn’t been named, was due to leave Gisborne today but had to stay on to assist police with their investigation. The report didn’t say if a weapon was used.

It’s appalling to hear that yet another tourist has been robbed in New Zealand.

Foreign women in particular are often seen as wealthy, easy targets and there have been multiple incidents of them being deliberately targeted by thieves. The most heinous of which was the robbery that led to the murder of of Joanne Wang in front of her young son at a shopping centre. See posts tagged handbag snatches.

See aslo:

Armed Robbery and Drugs. 80% or more smoke weed in Gisborne, 14 April 2010 :-

“The rise in violent crime in New Zealand continues unabated today with three more armed hold-ups. The first was at the Balance Street Village pharmacy in Gisborne at 8pm yesterday by a man with a handgun who escaped with a quantity of drugs…

Here’s a look at what the residents of Gisborne think about their town’s drug problem and the effects it’s having on their once pleasant community. It may come a surprise to anyone thinking about emigrating to the town ‘looking for a better quality of life’ to find out that New Zealand has these issues and how widespread the problem is:

Marijuana and the lost generation

“I am writing with regard to the recent drug bust in Gisborne. I know that probably 80 percent (or more)of the town smoke weed, or think there is nothing wrong with it.

However, you just have to look around to see the effects of the generational abuse of marijuana and other drugs around our area.

Dilapidated homes, no one caring enough to do anything, the kids roaming around with no parents who give a damn, generations of welfare recipients, crime at all levels, car accidents, general apathy relating to just about everything.

The mental health issues, people who fly into rages and can’t handle everyday reality because of constantly being stoned. Kids at school stoned, or not at school at all.

The experience of taking my child to a public toilet where before us a school kid (in uniform) had been inside getting stoned.

Going to town with my young children and walking past carloads of people parked up smoking weed.

The young mother all of 17-years-old in a store so stoned she could barely speak with her passed out baby in her arms . . . no doubt they had just been ‘toking’ in the car, too!

I don’t personally know the people involved in the recent drugs bust no, but I expect they had children who would have been exposed to it. Their drugs would be sold to people who are already dependent, or maybe young people just starting out.

Home detention is a joke. Drug dealing is not OK, no matter how many times people try to justify it!

It’s about time people stood up and realised it, although I do know that in Gizzy it is a big call.

I know that we have other “evils” such as alcohol and tobacco, too, but I personally think that marijuana is one of our biggest problems by far, especially on the coast.“

another reader had this to add:

“Drug problem being handed down

Well spoken “Angry” regarding marijuana and the lost generation, The Gisborne Herald, March 24.

Most people have absolutely no idea just how much drugs in all forms are affecting a large percentage of our people right here in Gisborne.

If you know what to look for (most don’t) you will certainly see affected people all over the place, in the city, in supermarkets and at gas stations etc. As stated by “Angry” carloads sitting around smoking cannabis and “P” in public.

The saddest thing about this is that this behaviour is being handed down to children big-time.

If a couple have this problem then their four to six children will also and so to their children which collectively add up to about 24 persons and this has been going on for generations.

The money that is able to be made from drugs supports a large number of people in many ways right here in Gisborne.

The people I am talking about number in the hundreds and are so deep in the lifestyle that it is too late for them.

Far too much cheek-turning is going on and if this social tolerance continues, well who knows where it will end up?

But have a look at the lifestyles of the people who live in the ‘Bronx’ because that’s where it’s heading for sure.

Drugs, then large unemployment because of drug habits, followed by violence, along with all forms of abuse and family crises.

That’s where it’s headed.”

• Gisborne retailers reluctant to back anti-truancy measures for fear of losing sales ( the district has a high level of school truancy) Link

• Owners of  a Gisborne skate park clubrooms angry at proposal to build youth detention centre on a reserve near to park. The park is used by 500-000 children every week link

French Tourists Thought They Were Going To Die

The three French tourists beaten during a campervan robbery in  Mangamuka, Northland, have spoken to stafff at the Dominion Post about their ordeal. The paper has named the men as Antonin Schopfer, 27, Guillaume Rey, 26, and Sebastien Vautier, 29.  The friends say that the men who attacked them were posing as police officers.

“The trio were nearing the end of a three-week campervan trip and were tired after driving back from Cape Reinga and parked in a rest area near Mangamuka, east of Kaitaia. They were fast asleep when there was a knock on the window about 1.30am.

Mr Schopfer said two men claimed they were police officers and wanted them to open up.

When that failed they asked for money, and the frightened Frenchmen handed about $500 through a window.

But the cash was not enough.

“They started kicking the door and it exploded. They came into the van and started beating one of my friends and the other got punched in the face,” Mr Schopfer said

“They were saying they had a gun so the three of us really thought we were going to die. It was the worst moment of my life and it was the same for my friends.”

Though Mr Schopfer escaped injury, Mr Vautier was kicked and repeatedly punched – losing a tooth – while he was still in bed.

The two men made off with two cellphones and a camera.

The trio say they struggle to understand why such violence was necessary.

“They could have taken everything without beating us,” Mr Schopfer said. “One of them was beating my friend for no reason. Maybe they thought we had more money but my friend kept saying: `No, we’ve given you all the money’.”

Northland seems to be a particularly risky place for tourists at present, with many of the aggravated robberies on tourists  overly violent and aggressive. It hasn’t helped either that some people have very publicly called for free campers to be ‘shot’. Calls like these invite the victimisation of innocent tourists.

See also:

“The Land Of Misadventure” – …”Northland has a high level of unemployment, a lot of low- income people and there are criminal groups targeting tourists at popular spots. Locals get robbed as well, but the tourists offer richer pickings for the criminals.

Though locals may lose their shoes, cellphone and the small sum of cash in their pockets, tourists were known to carry a lot more money, have expensive cameras and sometimes iPods and laptops. The latest attack and robbery of the three Frenchmen was typical…” Dom Post

We’ve often called for tourists, especially those using campervans, to be given more information about the dangers of crime in New Zealand and advice about areas to steer clear of.  Sadly, it seems that the message still isn’t getting out.

If you’re planning to take a holiday in New Zealand be sure to find out about the risks before you leave. If you are British you may wish to read the travel advisory issued about New Zealand by the Foreign and Commonwealth office here.

Related posts “Tourist Beaters Up Un-Maori” and “French Tourists Back in Northland to Help Catch Attackers“

Other recent tourist attacks and robberies in New Zealand include:

A family of Swiss tourists that were assaulted and racially abused in Kaitaia, Northland

Anke Kuballa and Marc Busch from Germany who were robbed in Whangarei, Northland

A family of five robbed at the roadside whilst camping in their van at Oturere Stream, 25km south of Turangi

Two German tourists attacked in Paihia, Northland

Two American tourists were robbed at Shipwreck Bay in Northland whilst sandboarding

Asian woman, (probably Japanese) age 22, raped in her room by 2 teenagers in a home invasion in Opotiki, Northland

Three Chinese tourists attacked and robbed at Te paki, 90 Mile Beach, Northland, by two men they’d stopped to help

French tourist Anthony Cressend, beaten and robbed at campsite in Ahipara, Northland

Two Australian tourists robbed at knifepoint for their holiday money in Te Puke, SE of Tauranga.

Japanese tourist age 23 (female) kidnapped, robbed and assaulted in Rotorua by four men

French tourist (male) raped at gunpoint near Opotiki,

American peace corp twins Adam and Alex Rahmlow, 21 were robbed of all their possessions by a man they tried to help in Amberley, Christchurch.

Dutch couple raped and robbed on a campsite in Tuatapere, NW of Invercargill, whilst on their honeymoon. (Dutch govt. issued a travel warning about NZ)

Two Koreans were attacked and robbed of their possession which included a laptop computer by a man claiming to be a gang member in Blenheim.

British tourist worker sexually assaulted near Hururu Falls, Northland when she was dragged off a walking track.

Canadian tourist Jeremie Kawerninski, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed in Lower Hutt, Wellington

Dutch couple robbed and sexually attacked Haruru Falls, Northland whilst on honeymoon.

Two British women robbed and raped in their campervan at Tokomaru Bay, north of Gisborne.

Japanese tourist subjected to a prolonged and brutal sex attack in a communal area of a backpacker’s hostel in Turangi, Taupo.

Scottish woman Karen Aim brutally murdered by a youth in Taupo.

German woman Birgit Brauer murdered near New Plymouth.

Korean man Jae Hyeon Kim decapitated with a spade by white supremacist.

Japanese tourist robbed at gunpoint in Oamaru.

Irish cycle tourist Paul Mack bashed, robbed and urinated on throughout his NZ tour.

6 English and Danish tourists attacked and stabbed in Cashel Mall, Christchurch for having “foreign accents.”

Irish man Robby O’Brien beaten up in Westport.

Russian couple Denis Khotchenko and Lera Nesterova beaten and robbed in Milford, Auckland

English woman knifed and sexually assaulted in a toilet block at an A1 motor camp in Kaikoura

American campers Patrick Dykstra and Kelsey McGinley beaten and robbed at Whangarei Falls, Northland.

Australian tourist sexually assaulted on a street in broad daylight in Nelson.

Australian tourist subjected to a sex attack by Maia Crawford Rongonui whilst walking home to a backpackers in Christchurch.

Canadian tourist left with a fractured skull outside Silver Fern backpackers in Taupo.

Dutch tourist beaten and robbed at Lake Rotorua.

British man Paul Speakman and his young son beaten and robbed in a campervan at Athenree Gorge, Katikati.

Chinese woman attacked for speaking Chinese on a train approaching Petone.

Scottish visitor Stuart Martin who was left in a coma and with a boot print on his face after a street bashing in Taradale, Christchurch.

Three Strikes Bill To Become Law In New Zealand – Updated

Voxy has published an ACT press release announcing that the Three Strikes Bill is to become law, and not before time (see below)

One little known about provision in the bill is that courts will be able to order a life sentence without parole for the worst types of murders, even if the offender has no previous convictions. It is thought that would apply to the the type of brutal murder that Clayton Weatherston committed and we also suspect that it will be used to sentence cop and child killers. For an update to this story please scroll down)

Clayton Weatherston

here’s the press release

“Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 4:22 pm
Press Release: ACT New Zealand

Historic Day As Three Strikes To Become Law

Today is a very significant day in the history of New Zealand’s criminal justice system with ACT’s ‘Three Strikes’ legislation incorporated into the Government’s Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill passing its third and final reading, says ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman David Garrett.

“Since ACT campaigned for ‘Three Strikes’in the 2008 election, four more people have been killed* – who, had ‘Three Strikes’ been in place at the time of the killing, would be alive today. The passing of this Bill is a huge step towards keeping violent, repeat offenders off our streets and keeping New Zealanders safe, Mr Garrett said.

“Both the ACT and National parties are committed to taking a tougher stance on crime, but we also realise that a focus on rehabilitation is equally important. That is why Budget 2010 more than doubled the funding available for rehabilitation programs. One initiative worthy of further enquiry is the concept of a ‘Drug Court’which sends non-violent offenders to rehabilitation rather than jail.

“While rehabilitation is an important step, regrettably, there will always be a number of repeat violent offenders who can’t be reformed. It is these people who, due to their violent history and recidivist behaviour, must be locked away to keep our communities safe. This is the purpose of Three Strikes.

“Today proves that ACT has helped National become a Government of action – one that does not merely talk tough on crime, but is truly committed to keeping New Zealanders safe,” Mr Garrett said.

Note:

Strike One: the offender receives a sentence, as determined by the judge, with parole. The offender will be warned by the judge of the consequences of committing another violent offence.

Strike Two: the offender receives a sentence, as determined by the judge, with no parole. Again the offender is warned of the consequence of committing another violent crime.

Strike Three: the offender will receive the maximum sentence for the crime with no parole unless it is manifestly unjust.

There are 40 listed serious violent offences.

ENDS

Update 30 June 2010

The first person to receive a strike under the new law has just been revealed, as was the nature of his crime – indecent assault, although he is also facing sentence for assaulting his mother.

“An Upper Hutt man has been served with New Zealand’s first warning under the controversial “three strikes” law after being convicted of groping a woman.

Dwyane Christopher Mercer, 32, was convicted in Upper Hutt District Court last week after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting his friend’s partner. Indecent assault is one of 40 serious violent offences that attract “strikes” upon conviction. The law came into force on June 1…

Mercer was also facing sentence for assaulting his mother while he was drunk, she said. His offending over the past 16 years was all alcohol-related. The judge remanded Mercer in custody until the sentencing hearing…

Judge Tom Broadmore warned Mercer he would be given a second strike if he committed another of the 40 offences, and would consequently serve a jail term without parole. A third strike would bring a mandatory maximum sentence for that crime, also with no parole. You will have to tread very carefully in the future,” the judge said.”

Time will tell, this is a guy who thinks nothing of assaulting his own mother. Let’s see what sentence he gets this time before leaping to any conclusions about the efficacy of the new law.

For more about Crime in New Zealand take a look at our Crime Stats page.

*New Zealand has the fifth highest murder rate in the OECD, there are about 100 murders and manslaughters in the country every year.

See also blog posts tagged Violent Crime

Three French Tourists Beaten Up In Northland Campervan Robbery

Attacks on tourists continue in New Zealand with the savage beating of three french tourists in Mangamuka, Northland (for updates also read “Tourist beaters up un-Maori” and “French Tourists Back in Northland To Help Catch Attackers” ). The men were later named as Antonin Schopfer, 27, Guillaume Rey, 26, and Sebastien Vautier, 29 (click here for an update)

The Dominion Post covered the story, saying:

“Three French tourists, attacked despite handing cash to robbers in Northland, feared for their lives, police say.

Two were taken to hospital with facial injuries after being attacked in their campervan, in a rest area south of Mangamuka, east of Kaitaia.

Detective Eddie Evans said the three awoke early yesterday to a man demanding money. The tourists, all in their 20s, handed cash through a window. Another man appeared and the pair broke into the van, attacking the trio and taking more property, Mr Evans said.

“The [tourists] met their demands and these guys have still proceeded to break into the campervan. They were freaked out … they feared for their lives.” The two men, described as Maori, left in an “old” car, that was possibly dark red or brown in colour.

In August three Chinese tourists were robbed at knifepoint in the Far North by two men they stopped to help. In October 2008 four Irish tourists had their van stolen at gunpoint in Dargaville. In 2006 a Dutch couple honeymooning in the Bay of Islands in a campervan were robbed at gunpoint and the woman raped. “

We’ve often called for tourists, especially those using campervans, to be given more information about the dangers of crime in New Zealand and advice about areas to steer clear of. Sadly, it seems that the message still isn’t getting out.

If you’re planning to take a holiday in New Zealand be sure to find out about the risks before you leave. If you are British you may wish to read the travel advisory issued about New Zealand by the Foreign and Commonwealth office here.

Low crime rate a ‘myth‘
Kevin Hicks, Chair of Neighbourhood Support Auckland City was once quoted as having said:

“…the popular notion that we have a low rate of crime Is yet another myth that has been perpetuated over the years.

Another myth is that we are a punitive society. Quite the reverse is true – we are actually a very lenient society with the chance of imprisonment falling from one chance in 30 in before the 1950s, to less than one chance in 200 by the 1980s. “It is very disappointing to see the debate still based on urban legends ideologically driven “research” when the statistics that are easily found on the government website say the exact opposite”. “Over those same years when prosecutions and imprisonment was falling, crime was exponentially rising” he says.

Crime is now
· impacting nearly quarter of a million kiwis per annum (ed. the pop. is only 4 million)

· damaging our reputation worldwide

· causing governments to issue tourism warnings due to our high crime rate

· spawned several websites now actively discouraging migration and tourism to NZ

· Costing the country over $12 billion per annum

· Hurting the most vulnerable people

Kevin says it is time to be honest and admit there is a problem and actually formulate some long term plans to deal with it. “

We agree with him and we will continue to highlight how crime impacts migrants and visitors to New Zealand until things improve.
In August of last year we wrote “Attack on three Chinese tourists – Reputation comments commence“:

“Labour’s tourism spokesman Kelvin Davis has been swift in issuing a strong rebuke as part of a damage limitation exercise following the knife point robbery and assault of three Chinese tourists in Northland. At least we’re not seeing the usual ‘isolated incident’ comment trotted out, so some credit to him for that.

Time to get tough on the causes of crime. Want to send out a really strong message to the community? catch those responsible and impose stiff sentences. In the meantime launch a honest campaign to warn visitors about the risks present in NZ so that they’re not sitting ducks – savvy consumers are nothing to be afraid of. A false image makes visitors vulnerable, use incidents like these to highlight the dangers and tell people they need to be as street-wise in NZ as in any other Western country with a high crime rate...”

For more see our Crime Stats and Facts page

Other tourist attacks and robberies include:

A family of Swiss tourists that were assaulted and racially abused in Kaitaia, Northland

Anke Kuballa and Marc Busch from Germany who were robbed in Whangarei, Northland

A family of five robbed at the roadside whilst camping in their van at Oturere Stream, 25km south of Turangi

Two German tourists attacked in Paihia, Northland

Two American tourists were robbed at Shipwreck Bay in Northland whilst sandboarding

Asian woman, (probably Japanese) age 22, raped in her room by 2 teenagers in a home invasion in Opotiki, Northland

Three Chinese tourists attacked and robbed at Te paki, 90 Mile Beach, Northland, by two men they’d stopped to help

French tourist Anthony Cressend, beaten and robbed at campsite in Ahipara, Northland

Two Australian tourists robbed at knifepoint for their holiday money in Te Puke, SE of Tauranga.

Japanese tourist age 23 (female) kidnapped, robbed and assaulted in Rotorua by four men

French tourist (male) raped at gunpoint near Opotiki

American peace corp twins Adam and Alex Rahmlow, 21 were robbed of all their possessions by a man they tried to help in Amberley, Christchurch.

Dutch couple raped and robbed on a campsite in Tuatapere, NW of Invercargill, whilst on their honeymoon. (Dutch govt. issued a travel warning about NZ)

Two Koreans were attacked and robbed of their possession which included a laptop computer by a man claiming to be a gang member in Blenheim.

British tourist worker sexually assaulted near Hururu Falls, Northland when she was dragged off a walking track.

Canadian tourist Jeremie Kawerninski, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed in Lower Hutt, Wellington

Dutch couple robbed and sexually attacked Haruru Falls, Northland whilst on honeymoon.

Two British women robbed and raped in their campervan at Tokomaru Bay, north of Gisborne.

Japanese tourist subjected to a prolonged and brutal sex attack in a communal area of a backpacker’s hostel in Turangi, Taupo.

Scottish woman Karen Aim brutally murdered by a youth in Taupo.

German woman Birgit Brauer murdered near New Plymouth.

Korean man Jae Hyeon Kim decapitated with a spade by white supremacist.

Japanese tourist robbed at gunpoint in Oamaru.

Irish cycle tourist Paul Mack bashed, robbed and urinated on throughout his NZ tour.

6 English and Danish tourists attacked and stabbed in Cashel Mall, Christchurch for having “foreign accents.”

Irish man Robby O’Brien beaten up in Westport.

Russian couple Denis Khotchenko and Lera Nesterova beaten and robbed in Milford, Auckland

English woman knifed and sexually assaulted in a toilet block at an A1 motor camp in Kaikoura

American campers Patrick Dykstra and Kelsey McGinley beaten and robbed at Whangarei Falls, Northland.

Australian tourist sexually assaulted on a street in broad daylight in Nelson.

Australian tourist subjected to a sex attack by Maia Crawford Rongonui whilst walking home to a backpackers in Christchurch.

Canadian tourist left with a fractured skull outside Silver Fern backpackers in Taupo.

Dutch tourist beaten and robbed at Lake Rotorua.

British man Paul Speakman and his young son beaten and robbed in a campervan at Athenree Gorge, Katikati.

Chinese woman attacked for speaking Chinese on a train approaching Petone.

Scottish visitor Stuart Martin who was left in a coma and with a boot print on his face after a street bashing in Taradale, Christchurch.

Palmerston North Armed Robbery

There has been another hold-up in Palmerston North and a major police operation was launched to arrest three men after an armed robbery in a dairy.

The Dom Post told us this much:

“Three men have been arrested after an apparent dairy robbery in Palmerston North led to a high-speed chase along State Highway 57 this afternoon.

A spokesman said police were called to a dairy in Seddon St about 2.45pm.

Three men fled the scene in a car, leading police south along SH57 at speeds in excess of 100kmh, the spokesman said.

The car was road-spiked twice and came to a stop near Tokomaru, 20km south of Palmerston North, about 3.20pm.

At least three police cars were involved in the chase.

No further details are available at this stage. “

The chase was described slightly differently by people on the Trademe Message Boards, one of them said that eight police cars, four of them unmarked, sped up the Pioneer Highway at around 2pm this afternoon. One was able to give us a bit more information:

“They stole a till at knife point, got into a police chase from Palmy-Longburn-Palmy-Tokomaru way.
They got a popped tyre from the road spikes and apparently they kept trying to go so the police readied the tasers.
Helicopter was out too.”

At the beginning of the month NZ’s crime figures were released showing that violence and drug-related offences are largely responsible for increased crime rates, up 4.6% over last year. There were 451,405 offences recorded in 2009, compared to  431,383 in 2008.

Police Minister Judith Collins said the figures showed the scale of the problem New Zealand faced.

“In the 18 months that I have been police minister I have been shocked at the level of violent and anti-social behaviour in our society,”

By what do the residents of Palmerston North think of what’s happening to their town and to their country? read one British migrant’s concerns:

Migrant Tales – “NZ A More Dangerous, More Violent Place”

“The words of our police minister today. NZ really does appear to be going down the gurgler. It all bad news just now for NZ. They blame P (methamphetamine) and the dole/bludging way of life for too many.

There have been a spate of ugly attacks in Palmy of late.

Murders are going thru the roof.

The only difference betwixt NZ and the UK is looking like just the lower population of NZ. The latter is a huge pull for me as I hate crowds and endless jams on the road. They reckon its going to get worse. Another caveat before you chose to come. Canada or Oz are looking like more favourable alernatives aye? Or are they too going to shite??”

“The NZ Institute says today that NZ is failing as a nation. There are some horendous stats coming out of their report (google it). I would seriously consider not coming to NZ just now if I was starting out the process I did just under six years ago. I would look at Oz or Canada. I love NZ and have our roots too well set to consider a move at present..who knows Oz may well beckon in the coming years as we will soon be citizens of NZ.

I have no axe to grind. Inspite of the fiscal problems NZ’s crap fiscal regulators have wrought upon us we have a superb quality of life here, [my wife] has a glowing career in senior palliative care and our kids are incredibly happy. Thus we are content here and we want for nothing, but I am soooo glad my kids can go to Oz if need be or can return to europe some day for a brighter future.

I really think NZ is looking at a downward trend now in terms of the quality of life here. I think the kiwi $$ will steadily lose value over the coming months as NZ will be seen to be a risky place to invest..a bit like a rudderless boat. All we need is a dairy disaster and NZ will be all washed up. Think about your options aye?

I am not being dark or wishing to start a flare thread…just telling you what I hear on the news. The rest is up to you.”