The case of the bungling 'Beagle Boys' burglars

A trio of bumbling Nelson burglars turned their one night out stealing into a farce worthy of Walt Disney's Beagle Boys.

The saga saw two of them rescued by police on the way to the scene of the intended crime.

When they got there on the second attempt, they were beaten off by a lone woman resident.

Their luck finally ran out when they needed to be rescued again while trying to flee.

The saga was recounted in the Nelson District Court this week when Mark Frank Johnson, aged 22, admitted aggravated burglary.

Sergeant Wayne Johnston said that on February 27, Johnson and a mate set off in a car from Nelson aiming to steal drugs from a dwelling at Kaiata, a few kilometres from Greymouth.

They had an accident near Murchison, badly damaging their car, and a policeman who turned up spotted the balaclavas and knives they carried.

But Johnson bluffed his way out of that by claiming the headgear and weapons were for his work.

The police even gave the pair a ride back to Nelson.

Johnson and his mate borrowed a car and, with another friend, headed straight back to Greymouth.

Along the way they picked up a 16-year-old runaway schoolgirl, had a few drinks and took drugs.

Just before reaching the target house they stopped, changed their clothes and put on the balaclavas and gloves.

At 11.40 pm they parked the car, left the girl in the vehicle and advanced on the house.

The trio carried a meat cleaver, knife and wheel brace.

But they made too much noise and a woman inside spotted them and telephoned the police.

One of the gang opened a window and tried to climb inside but the woman slammed it shut and held it there. The men fled.

Two of them drove off but the car became bogged down as they reversed into a vacant section to await their friend.

The third man finally made it to the car but the noise they made trying to push the vehicle clear woke a neighbour - who offered to help tow the car.

But it was too late.

The police arrived and their dog found the balaclavas and weapons nearby.

This time, the game was up.

Johnson, who claimed that one of the other men had talked him into the crime, was remanded on bail for sentencing on September 20.

Two other men also facing aggravated burglary charges are yet to plead.

Sergeant Johnston did not say what happened to the runaway schoolgirl.

- NZPA