Bungling thieves caught selling stolen goods to Whanganui store

Cash Converters on Victoria Ave in Whanganui. Photo/Bevan Conley

Despite nearly a 100 per cent guarantee of getting caught, thieves are still opting to sell stolen items to Whanganui's Cash Converters for less than a tenth of their worth.

In the last year, the Chronicle has recorded three cases where stolen items valued over $1000 have been sold to the second-hand dealer.

Early this year, Michael Kumeroa sold eight items of stolen musical equipment valued at $4400 to the pawn shop for $1270.

In July, Amelia Ann Morris sold a gold diamond ring to Cash Converters in Whanganui for $80.

It was later discovered the ring had been stolen from a couple's Whanganui home while they were on holiday and was worth more than $1000.

In October last year, Saphire Chase Ngahina Metekingi traded in stolen squash gear valued at $1300 to Cash Converters for $95.

And that's not even the worst. In August 2015 a Whanganui woman named Shai Gilsenan-Haddon stole a couple's wedding rings worth over $1500 just before they had planned to tie the knot. She sold it to Cash Converters for $100.

All offenders were convicted and the items were recovered, and there have been a number of previous cases where people have taken stolen goods to the store and consequently ended up in court and been convicted.

Whanganui Police constable James Oxtoby said it was generally pretty easy to track down the thieves because they were required to show ID and were videoed on CCTV cameras in the store.

"If police are notified in relation to stolen property or we detect stolen property, then whoever has sold the property is generally prosecuted and put before the courts ... and the property is handed back to the owner," he said.

Cash Converters spokesman Erin White said it provided local police with details of all items purchased, including make, model and serial numbers.

He said having that process in place has meant few stolen goods were presented to the store.

"The system has proved effective and helped police to catch thieves ... we also have a letter of agreement with New Zealand Police and every member of staff is police-vetted.

"If any [goods] are found to be stolen, they are voluntarily handed over to police, at a loss to the store."

Senior Sergeant Shayne Wainhouse said stolen property being sold to second-hand dealers in Whanganui was not a concern as the thieves usually got caught.

"We complete a weekly review of all items purchased by all the Whanganui pawn shops.

"It would appear that there is a far greater amount of stolen property being sold via social media," Mr Wainhouse said.