Security cameras catch out thieves

A thief has been caught by police thanks to security camera footage.

A man who thought he could get away with a second shot at helping himself to window handles from a Pandora retail shop ended up explaining to police what he was up to.

The incident was one of several which came to the notice of the Napier industrial areas' Community Constable Mike Burne in the past month and showed the value of an efficient closed-circuit security camera system.

Mr Burne said the man took a window handle from its packaging and left. His movements, which included getting into his car, were also captured on camera and came to the fore next day when he returned.

"This time, stealing two more window handles," Mr Burne said.

The thief was spotted, police were called, and he was subsequently dealt with.

In a second incident at the same store, a camera caught a woman placing items in her handbag and running off.

She was recognised from camera footage and tracked down by police a couple days later.

Also tracked down was a young man who decided to help himself to a drill bit at a hardware store and left without paying.

Caught on camera, he was identified.

"The offender's mother is assisting police with inquiries," Mr Burne said.

Police are also confident CCTV will help them collar a person who entered a contractor's yard in Angus Place in the Onekawa industrial area last month and took a Stihl-brand concrete cutter and sledge hammer.