Stolen booty worth $6170

A 26-year-old Masterton man has been sentenced to three months' community detention after he and associates stole commercial batteries worth over $6000.

Prosecutor Sergeant Jodie Lawrence told Masterton District Court that between 1pm and 2pm on March 24 Ashley Taylor and associates had driven into the driveway of a property in Upper Plain, Masterton, and discovered the property owners were not home.

A garage had been entered and searched and several expensive batteries stolen.

These had been loaded into a vehicle and taken to a property in Judds Rd where they were stashed.

The batteries taken included four large commercial batteries valued at $2550, two large deep cycle batteries valued at $3500 and some smaller batteries worth $120.

After the batteries were taken they were loaded into a vehicle and transported to a Masterton address where they were stored in a garage.

On March 25 police went to the property on an unrelated matter and discovered the stolen batteries that collectively were worth $6170.

When he was questioned Taylor, a forestry worker, admitted the facts outlined.

Judge Tom Broadmore said it was a pity that Taylor had offended in such a manner as he had kept a relatively low profile in recent times.

He is currently serving a community detention based sentence for an unrelated matter which is due to run until June 10.

"It's a bit of a shame Mr Taylor because it looks like you've stayed out of trouble for two to three years until recently," Judge Broadmore said.

"I'm imposing another three-month period of community detention that will run cumulatively to your existing sentence."