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4 Jul 2025

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Group of young people arrested over arsons in Canterbury
Police were alerted to three separate reports of arson around Rolleston.

Watch: Mini mart workers selling illegal cigarettes confronted by BBC reporter
The BBC's Ed Thomas collaborated with undercover buyers to see how easy it was to obtain illegal cigarettes.

The sale of illegal cigarettes signals a deeper problem with UK high streets
Some black market cigarettes have been found to contain dead flies and asbestos. But the trade nods to a wider issue, a BBC investigation has found

Teen arrested after alleged attempted car theft at Auckland park-and-ride
A report of a person breaking into a car led to police blocking in the vehicle and arresting a 13-year-old.

Child, 11, arrested with other teens on late night joyride
The occupants of a stolen vehicle spotted driving the wrong way on a motorway included an 11-year-old, while the driver was charged with drink driving.

Organised crime programme targets causes of drug use in communities
The government has committed $36.7m since 2022, $2.6m has gone to Porirua.

Green MP dismisses police data showing drop in crime - here’s why
“There hasn’t been any convincing data being released around trends,” Lawrence Xu-Nan told Stuff.

Home detention for man who used fake passports
A 61-year-old Nelson man who used fake passports to travel to Australia and Fiji over three years has avoided jail, with a judge instead sentencing him to 12 months’ home detention due to his age and poor health.

Redacted evidence 'delayed police grooming cases'
The decision led to significant delays in police investigations, an inspection says.

'Diddy' denied bail after being cleared of most serious charges
Combs will remain behind bars because of his history of violence, the judge said, setting sentencing for October.

Woman left fighting for life as fake Botox beautician apologises
As the BBC names a beautician who gave illegal jabs, two victims share their story.

Queenstown landlord with 22 migrant tenants in unlawful five-bedroom home fined over $100k
James Truong chose to ignore tenancy rules and had 22 people living in the building.

Six young people arrested over Rolleston arson attacks
Police have arrested six young people in connection with three recent arson incidents targeting buildings in the Rolleston area.

MI5 false evidence was a serious failing, Cooper says
The home secretary says the government accepts the high court’s ruling that an independent investigation should take place.

REVIEW: A crime to miss this Chicago ‘masterpiece’
It’s not often you leave a local show and see an audience member trying to imitate the cast’s moves.

Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr ‘arrested by US immigration police for deportation’
Chávez Jr has been arrested for entering the United States illegally and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organised crime charges, US officials say.

This ethical hacker’s one tip changed how I think about digital scams
Scams existed before the internet, but being online makes them so much worse. A grifter can steal money faster by flooding the world with so many different tactics, like fake text messages, deceptive emails, malicious websites, and bad search engine results. Trying not to get tripped up is complicated. It’s something I’m always aware of when sharing best practices with others. But when I recently spoke with ethical hacker Mike Danseglio, I got a surprise tip that makes avoiding scams so much easier. Be suspicious. Most people start from a place of trust first. But constantly scanning for ill intent is more work for our brains—especially now as scammers get more sophisticated and persistent. Instead, if you default to thinking it could be a trick, you’ll naturally screen more carefully. At least, I know I do. I ask myself more detailed questions, like who exactly is contacting me and if they have a good reason to. As for what to do next, Danseglio believes in an equally simple approach. Don’t ignore all messages—some will be legitimate. Just follow up directly, instead of using the links or phone numbers given to you. Use contact information from your bank cards or the bank’s official site.Pixabay (Ex: Get a text from your bank about fraudulent activity? Find the phone number for customer service on your credit card or the company’s website, then initiate the call yourself. Or if a website instructs you to change a password after an account breach, open a separate tab and sign in independently. And if your friend calls and says they’re in jail for causing a car accident? First try calling your saved number for them.) This overall recipe for avoiding scams (wariness + direct contact) is very simple to remember. And more importantly, follow. It’s a heck of a lot easier than trying to memorize every piece of advice on how to avoid specific scams—which is still helpful to read when journalists and experts share those details (hi) for basic familiarity with what’s out there. (Threats keep changing, and much faster than even five years ago, too.) But realistically, it’s easier to go back and search for specific tips when you need them. Of course, online dangers are more than just scams—attackers can steal money, accounts, and other valuable information through other methods. Keeping antivirus software up to date, using a password manager to create and manage unique strong passwords, and minimizing how much personal info you share online are vital, too. You can hear myself and other PCWorld staff members discuss this with Danseglio in our chat with him on The Full Nerd, our weekly show. Our chat includes a whole segment on Windows 10 security, a looming issue with its end of life coming this October.