KEY POINTS:
An alleged gang of thieves is to go on trial accused of breaking into postboxes and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cheques.
Initially, around 50 people were charged with a variety of offences, but a number have already been dealt with, leaving around 36 facing
trial.
Police, who dubbed the case Operation Len, allege that an organised crime family from Auckland's North Shore was behind the scam, involving the theft of dozens of large-value cheques.
Cheque values varied mainly from several thousand dollars up to the $80,000 range.
One of the largest was a cheque made out to the IRD for $205,579.
According to the police, payee details were altered and the name of an associate of the family inserted instead.
The altered cheques were paid into the accounts of these "mules" who received a payment of $800 to $2000 for allowing their account to be used.
Banks' quick-drop deposit boxes were used to avoid detection by security video surveillance.
A number of mules, sometimes people on a benefit, told a depositions hearing that they handed over their A" cards and Pin numbers.
When they got their cards back, they received their payment.
They were told a variety of stories about where the money was coming from.
Individuals and businesses were affected including a pharmacy, real estate agents, a sports company, a media group, the trust account of one of the major Christian churches in Auckland, one of the country's most prominent fee-paying schools and others.
Some of the stolen cheques were dishonoured, but most were paid into the mules' accounts.
Withdrawals were made at various outlets, many of them in the suburbs of Birkenhead and Birkdale.
A large number of withdrawals were also made at the SkyCity Casino.
Details were given at the depositions hearings of a number of street boxes being broken into and mail bags stolen.
One of the mules said she did not know exactly what was involved though she knew the offer involved an element of dishonesty.
It was common knowledge around the Beach Haven community that people could give their bank details, Eftpos card and Pin number to certain people and receive money for doing so.
It is understood the various banks reimbursed their clients.
The case will be transferred to the Auckland District Court in April for trial in the following months, with some of those on the periphery expected to be giving evidence.
