Farmers concerned thieves are casing their properties from the sky
Rural residents fear there may be a link between rogue drones spotted at their properties and burglaries in the same areas.
A police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating reported drone incidents in rural North Canterbury.
Swannanoa contract milker Wayne Pritchard was not taking any chances though when he saw a drone hovering above a dairy shed on Monday night.
A second drone was spotted buzzing around the farm owner’s house, and three suspicious vehicles were seen nearby.
Pritchard and the farm owner reported the sightings and vehicle registration numbers to the police. Many other had residents reporting seeing drones on their properties in the area.
Under New Zealand drone privacy laws, operators must have the consent of the property owner or person in charge of the area they want to fly. That consent also enables them to fly above the neighbouring property.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
Today’s riddle: For all the curious minds next door!
My thunder comes before the lightning.
My lightning comes before the clouds.
My rain dries all the land it touches.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
-
43.3% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
-
56% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
-
0.6% Other - I'll share below