Demo models no good to shoplifter

ON CAMERA: CCTV footage of the man on Tuesday. 06052015WCSUPPHONE2

A shoplifter's efforts will be all in vain as the two iPhones he stole from the Spark Wanganui store on Tuesday afternoon were demonstration models.

A man - described as Maori or Polynesian and aged about 17 - entered Spark Wanganui in Victoria Ave and yanked two phones from the store's display.

However, owner Shane Nottage said the theft was caught on the store's security cameras.

"He went to the phones, obviously he had a quick look around just wrapped the phones together and ran," Mr Nottage said.

The man crossed Victoria Ave and ran down an alleyway next to America Nails.

The two phones - an iPhone 6 and 6 plus - were ripped off the display unit. There were four customers and three staff in the store at the time.

"The crazy thing is, all our demo phones are not useable," Mr Nottage said. "They have pre-programmed demo software, which you can't erase."

The man dropped a bracket, which Mr Nottage said police were testing for fingerprints.

The theft caused about $1000 damage to the store's display units.

Mr Nottage said there was little value in stealing phones as New Zealand telecommunication companies had recently agreed to share serial numbers. Phones reported stolen get locked out and blacklisted off the networks.