Stealing spree ends in one-year prison sentence

File photo / NZ Herald

A recidivist shoplifter has been sent to prison for a string of thefts from businesses in Whangarei and in Auckland, including stealing a 50-inch television.

Kelly Ruka, 23, has an extensive history of more than 100 dishonesty offences.

She was sentenced to one year behind bars when she appeared in Whangarei District Court on 11 charges of shoplifting, one of driving without a licence and another of common assault.

Judge Greg Davis said that on September 18 last year Ruka and another woman, who is yet to be sentenced, went to Wholesale Meats and stole three packs of steak, worth $200.

Both then went to Noel Leeming in central Whangarei and at Okara Drive, where they pinched speakers and other items worth $309.

Judge Davis said their next target was Harvey Norman in Otaika, where a cellphone valued at $400 and other items worth $145 were stolen.

The two then filled up $30 worth of petrol at nearby Gull but did not pay for it, and took ice blocks and 35 chocolate bars without paying.

Police stopped the car they were travelling in on State Highway 1 and recovered the stolen items.

Prior to the offending, in July last year Ruka walked into The Warehouse in Manukau and grabbed a 50-inch television.

She refused to provide proof of purchase when requested and abused staff.

Ruka was also charged with the theft of a stereo worth $182 from an electrical shop and items valued at $263 from a pharmacy in Manurewa.

Also, she stole $857 worth of items from Spotlight in Whangarei.

On the charge of common assault, she shoved a staff member at Coin Save in Tikipunga.

Ruka earlier accepted a sentence indication of 12 months.

Judge Davis said she was assessed as unsuitable to attend a course that dealt with people suffering from kleptomania - an inability to refrain from the urge to steal.

Ruka was ordered to pay $1530, being her share of reparation.