Phillip Spooner and his spree of thefts from retailers, homes, and car keys from gyms

Phillip Spooner broke into gyms and stole car keys before taking off in the stolen cars. He also ended up in a violent tussle with a man while trying to steal his car from the garage. Photo / 123rf

A man who tried to stop another man from stealing his car ended up being punched in the face multiple times during a violent struggle.

The victim was at his Hamilton home when he heard his garage door opening and went outside to investigate – only to find Phillip Spooner trying to steal his car.

According to police, Spooner was sitting in the driver’s seat, so the man climbed into the passenger seat and pulled the handbrake to stop him from leaving.

The car owner then put Spooner in a headlock, but the thief bit him on the wrist, causing him to relax his grip.

Spooner then punched him in the face multiple times and began reversing the car with the victim still in the passenger seat.

The owner eventually managed to put the vehicle into drive before his partner came out of their home and took the keys out of the ignition.

The burglary happened last year during a crime spree when Spooner stole thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing, tools, and groceries from businesses. He also broke into numerous gyms and stole members’ car keys before taking off in their vehicles.

This week, Spooner appeared in the Hamilton District Court , where he pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges, including eight burglary, four shoplifting, and one each of theft, unlawfully in an enclosed yard, aggravated assault, and unlawfully taking a bike.

‘Petrol, clothing, tools, food, and cars’

Most of those charges relate to petrol drive-offs, a $1379.92 theft from Rebel Sport, a $1300 theft from Macpac, numerous thefts from Mitre 10 Mega Te Rapa and Ruakura totalling $4500, and thefts from Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse, and the Warehouse worth about $1500.

Spooner also made a determined effort to steal keys, and subsequently cars, from gym-goers around Hamilton on September 4 and 5, including at Jets Fitness Grey St, Snap Fitness Frankton and Hamilton East, and Flex Fitness Dinsdale, for which he was charged with burglary.

In one gym, he got inside by claiming he needed to use the toilet, but stole a set of keys instead.

He also backed his car into a Kenny Cres property on September 5, jumped the fence, and stole a $700 pressure washer before taking off.

His most serious offending happened on September 7, when he went into the garage of a Heritage Ave property and tried to steal a car.

After the violent tussle, and the man’s partner intervening, another neighbour also rushed to the car owner’s aid.

The neighbour tried to help restrain Spooner until police arrived.

However, Spooner, who claimed his daughter needed to get to hospital, managed to get free and was last seen jumping over a neighbouring fence.

A short time later, he was spotted on Musselwhite Terrace.

A member of the public gave chase.

As he was restrained, Spooner told the victim, “I know where you guys live”, and “I know what you guys look like”.

Judge Clark convicted Spooner and remanded him in custody for sentencing on April 1.

Until then, the court heard inquiries would be made to see if he qualified for the matter to be transferred to the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court.

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.