Auckland is a vibrant city and has been rated by travel bible ‘Lonely Planet’ as one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit.
The city attracts about 1.8 million foreign visitors a year and was recently praised for its revitalised waterfront areas such as the Wynyard Quarter and multiple shopping and dining precincts.
Auckland is a comparatively safe city. However, some precautions must be taken to ensure that you do not become victims of property crime.
Safety Guides
Here are some of the safety tips:
When it is dark, avoid walking through parks or poorly lit areas like Albert Park or Myers Park in the City. If you have your headphones on or you are using your mobile phones, you might become a target of criminals;
Having your headphones on or speaking on your mobile phone makes you attractive to opportunist thieves who want to snatch your bag or mobile phones because they know that you will not notice them until it is too late;
If you must walk through the parks, make sure you walk in groups, stick to the paths and, where possible, walk through areas that have good lighting. If in doubt, head for lit areas or walk into a shop and stay there until you feel safe to leave;
Personal precautions
If it is late and you are not sure that you are safe to get home, take a taxi or call a friend to pick you up. When you are in the taxi, take a photo of the taxi driver’s ID (which is usually on the dashboard) and send that photo to a friend or family member;
Whenever walking on streets, have your bag slung around your neck across your shoulder, securely with the zip or fastener closed.
Put valuable items out of sight, including wallets, mobile phones, laptops, tablets and small expensive designer bags.
Even during the daytime, when walking along open streets or parks, it is advisable to pay attention to the people around you.
Enjoy our parks but just be aware of your surroundings. If you take these necessary precautions, you are less likely to become a victim of property crime.
Source: Auckland City District Police
