Man goes on shoplifting crime spree

Rotorua Courthouse. Photo/file

A Rotorua man went on a two-month crime spree stealing homeware, appliances, clothing and petrol valued at more than $4500.

Ralph Hohepa Pereira, 28, appeared via audio visual link in the Rotorua District Court today where he pleaded guilty to 15 counts of dishonesty offences from May 15 and July 19.

The police summary of facts said Pereira went to several businesses, mainly in Rotorua, where he picked up items and walked out of the stores, making no attempts to pay.

The 15 charges include 10 for shoplifting items valued under $500, two for theft between $500 and $1000, one for theft over $1000, one for shoplifting between $500 and $100 and one for theft under $500.

On one occasion on June 26 he went to Briscoes in Rotorua where he took a knife block set and an 11-piece cookware set valued at nearly $600 and walked out of the store.

Later that day he returned to Briscoes and grabbed a stockpot valued at nearly $250. He walked past the checkout, smiled at the staff member and left the shop making no attempt to pay, the summary said.

On July 7, after stealing more than $600 worth of groceries from Countdown Fenton St, he went to Briscoes again and stole two hand vacuum cleaners valued at $400 each and a suitcase valued at $350. After leaving the store, he was chased by a staff member who managed to grab the suitcase of his ute as he drove away, the summary said.

Other items he stole included petrol and food from four different petrol stations, clothing and footwear from Rebel Sport, hair straighteners from Farmers Rotorua, food from Couplands Bakery, drills from Mitre 10 Mega and duvets covers and bedding from Briscoes.

The total amount he stole came to $4553.18.

The summary said that on every occasion he was caught on CCTV. He told police he couldn't remember all the "stuff" he had stolen but it was "obviously me in all the photos".

Judge Tony Snell remanded Pereira in custody to be sentenced on October 16.