‘Tuna, cake, crayfish, trackpants, socks and a toothbrush’
Anderson’s spree kicked off in February last year in Hamilton, before he carried out stints in Levin and Palmerston North, and then went back to the Waikato again.
Anderson was first busted in a stolen vehicle on Comries Rd in February, before being caught in another one the following month.
When questioned, he said, “Mrs and I just bought the car from a friend for cheap. I didn’t know it was stolen”.
By June 11, Anderson and his partner were in Levin, and in The Warehouse, where the pair stole two bucket hats and a long-sleeved shirt, valued at $50.
On the evening of June 26, the pair were in New World Levin.
Anderson picked out four packets of Sealord tuna and put them in his pockets.
He walked to a chiller and was handed a frozen crayfish by his partner.
As they walked down the aisle, he “concealed” it inside the front of his shorts and jacket.
He walked out, without paying, before stopping near the trolley bay and indulging in one of the tuna packets.
He then went back inside, where his partner was paying for items, and as he left again, he grabbed a chocolate mud cake from a display and left again.
By August, he was in The Warehouse in Palmerston North with a female associate.
He grabbed an $80 Oral B toothbrush, took it out of its box, “concealed it on his person”, before putting the empty box back on the shelf.
He then set about grabbing a $36 razor, and $5 nail clipper, and putting them in his trouser pocket.
When approached by a loss prevention officer about concealing the items, Anderson denied it, and instead pulled out a 30cm-long knife from his shorts and said, “this is all I have on me”.
Believing it was an attempt to intimidate her, the officer walked away.
Anderson approached her again, showing the knife, before leaving.
By August 31, he was on bail for the earlier offending, went into Rebel Sport, put a pair of Adidas pants and a pair of socks down his pants, and walked out without paying.
Two weeks later, he went into Woolworths, and concealed a packet of scotch fillet and Hellers bacon in his clothing before leaving.
On September 21, and back in Hamilton, he went into the Chartwell Chemist Warehouse with his partner and stole a $212 bottle of Versace Eros Energy perfume.
‘His partner is having a baby soon’
Anderson’s lawyer, Mark Fyers, urged Judge Hambleton to get an end jail term of around 10 months as his partner was due to give birth in May.
“If Mr Anderson could be in the community, that would be a positive thing for them,” he submitted.
He’d already spent 113 days, or about four months, in custody, so by May would be nearing the end of his sentence.
Anderson had a “very disjointed background and has suffered some significant trauma in his life”.
He also had a drug addiction, Fyers said.
‘These are serious charges’
Judge Hambleton acknowledged Anderson’s tough upbringing, which had a long-term effect on him.
However, the charges were also serious, she said.
She took a starting point of 15 months’ prison before allowing 35% in discounts, and jailed him for 11 months.
She also granted The Warehouse’s request for reparation, which totalled $135.
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.
