Cole said the street, which is lined with businesses, was being used as a racetrack and burnout pad, particularly on weekend nights.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a constant stream of hoons coming down the avenue and doing burnouts.<\/p>\n
Businessman Bryce Cole displays a shredded water main cover and a piece of tyre left by “hoons” using Birch Ave in Judea as a burnout pad. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been with Gourmet Foods for 22 years, and this issue has been occurring off and on for a large part of that time,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concern now is that it seems to be becoming more frequent, and the vehicles involved appear to be travelling faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the vehicles damaged private and council property.<\/p>\n
A company sign was bent so badly that a forklift was needed to push it back into place, and a security camera was smashed off and stolen.<\/p>\n
Gourmet Foods Ltd’s security camera was smashed. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
Other businesses had to replace water main covers \u201cground down to nothing\u201d by racers putting them under their tyres to skid. They also used McDonald\u2019s trays, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other week, we had someone come down towing a pallet up and down the road behind the vehicles, trying to ride on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he believed some of this behaviour had been influenced by overseas trends and the rise of drifting in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
People, including children, would run around the cars doing burnouts in the dark, and some recorded videos which he believed were for social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe loss of control shown in [security camera videos] has serious potential consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually, someone is going to get seriously hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole heard the burnouts regularly from his Judea home and said he had called police many times.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the time a patrol car is available to attend, the vehicles are usually gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole said police had recently impounded a couple of the vehicles involved.<\/p>\n
Bryce Cole said the dangerous driving was happening more frequently. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth of them were unregistered, both were expected to have gone to the wreckers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other business leaders along the street told Local Democracy Reporting they often saw burnout marks when they arrived at work each morning.<\/p>\n
Roar Pet Food owner Luke Nuttall said there was always mud sprayed from the roundabout.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a big tree in the middle of it. They do doughnuts around the tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s churned up pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Damage and vandalism on Birch Ave in Judea. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
He said there was often debris all over the road.<\/p>\n
Impact Engineering general manager Mark Welten had also noticed the roundabout track marks and mud at the end of the road where his business was.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been intermittent over the last six months, but recently it\u2019s escalated to almost a daily thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it did not impact the business directly, he said, the road looked \u201ca bit unsightly\u201d with black skid marks, rubbish flying around and graffiti.<\/p>\n
Graffiti on Birch Ave in Judea. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
Cole spoke to the council\u2019s city delivery committee on Tuesday, suggesting that installing a monitored camera with automatic number plate recognition capability would be the most effective solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would allow for a faster response to these incidents and would also help spread the message that Birch Avenue is not a safe or acceptable place for this behaviour to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bethlehem ward councillor Kevin Schuler, who had discussed the issue with Cole, referenced an incident where someone used a crowbar to smash a private camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, we had another camera pointing in a similar direction, which captured the incident. Police now have that footage and information,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n
Bethlehem ward councillor Kevin Schuler. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n
Schuler told Local Democracy Reporting that the situation was frustrating for businesses and the road had tyre marks all over it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw the damage that can happen when a driver loses control. This makes it even more concerning to see a young child in the footage.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said business owners should not have to tolerate property damage and vandalism.<\/p>\n
Their cameras were not strong enough to read number plates, which meant they had little to help police. <\/p>\n
\u201cPolice are very busy, so despite their best intentions, they cannot guarantee responding at short notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hopeful we can install a strong surveillance camera \u2013 out of crowbar range \u2013 soon to help police identify vehicles and track down owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Council operations and infrastructure general manager Reneke van Soest told the meeting the behaviour on Birch Ave was a police matter.<\/p>\n
Council operations and infrastructure general manager Reneke van Soest said the bad behaviour was a police matter. Photo \/ Kelly O’Hara<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we can do is, if we see it, refer it to the police so there is a critical response.\u201d<\/p>\n
For that, she said, they needed cameras in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor cameras to operate, we need power connections. Both of those are currently in progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cPowerco currently has a dramatic backlog so it might not be for a few months until that happens, but we are aware and we are working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty Police area prevention manager, Inspector Zane Smith, said Tauranga police were aware of the behaviour and taking action.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnti-social behaviour on our roads can cause serious harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said after reports of unlawful activity in Judea, police had taken people into custody and impounded vehicles. <\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty Inspector Zane Smith. Photo \/ George Novak<\/p>\n
He said offenders held to account could face charges such as sustained loss of traction and dangerous driving. Vehicles were often impounded as a result.<\/p>\n
The community played an important role in helping police understand what was going on, as did CCTV cameras, which could help police identify vehicles and drivers involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask members of the public to report any suspicious or unlawful activity as soon as possible, providing as much detail as it is safe to do so,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
This helped police better understand what was happening, prioritise resources and respond effectively.<\/p>\n
Where an immediate response was not possible, the information allowed them to follow up with vehicle owners and drivers and take appropriate action. <\/p>\n
Smith said anyone who witnesses unlawful or anti-social road behaviour should contact the police immediately on 111. <\/p>\n
Information could also be provided through the 105 service, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.<\/p>\n
\u2013 LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.<\/p>\n