A cash-strapped Mount Maunganui man racked up his 13th and 14th burglaries when he broke into two houses stealing laptops and jewellery. Unemployed Chevy Stere Lyons, 17, accepted his seven-and-a-half months' prison term was justified when he was sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday. Lyons had earlier pleaded guilty to twocharges of burglary and one of a breach of community work. On September 15 Lyons climbed through an open bathroom window of a house in Tweed St and took a laptop and items of jewellery, smashing the laptop on a fence as he fled the property. The jewellery included an antique watch, a pearl necklace and three brooches, which had belonged to the occupant's recently deceased aunt. Lyons also stole a $400 Fuji digital camera, an $800 surfboard and 40 CDs. The same day Lyons went to a second-hand dealer in Tauranga and sold the surfboard and camera for $250. He claimed he sold the jewellery to an unknown person. On September 18, Lyons entered a house in Valley Rd through a bathroom window. He took a laptop and iPod but fled as the resident arrived home. Judge Christopher Harding told Lyons that despite his young age, a prison term was justified given his 12 previous burglary offences. Lyons was also ordered to pay reparation of $1930 at $30 a week, with the first payment due 28 days after his release from prison.
