NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Mugshots show Robert Hardister's dramatic face transformation

Daily Mail
7 Jun, 2017 04:15 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Repeat offender's mugshots reveal how his facial tattoos have evolved over 8 years.

A serial offender known for his evolving face tattoos was arrested again in Florida while sitting in a stolen car, police said.

Robert Hardister, who makes for a memorable mugshot, was arrested shortly after 8pm on Sunday by an officer conducting a routine patrol in the St Augustine neighborhood.

Almost every inch of the 25-year-old repeat offender's face is covered in ink.

His latest mugshot, shows a newly pierced eyebrow and tattoos that cover his entire neck.

On Sunday, the St Augustine Beach police officer ran the tag of an unoccupied 2007 Chrysler Sebring, which had been stolen out of Marion County.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

According to a police statement, the officer called for backup and set up surveillance of the stolen vehicle.

Shortly, thereafter Hardister approached the car and and sat in the driver's seat.

Hardister was quickly apprehended without incident and later confessed that he knew the vehicle was stolen.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He went on to say he was a drug dealer that had 'fronted' an unknown individual methamphetamine in exchange for the Chrysler.

Hardister said he had a lot of experience in 'boosting' cars from individuals.

Officers also found that Hardister was wanted for an active warrant in North Carolina for violating his parole.

In September 2016, Hardister was arrested for stealing a truck. At that point his tattooed-face showed three tear drops falling underneath a star under his right eye while his cheek is tattooed with a creepy half-skeletal mouth.

Discover more

Entertainment

Snap to it! Capture Auckland

09 Jun 05:00 PM

Hardister's forehead is a mass of solid greed, and his entire neck is given over to a graffiti "wall".

But it wasn't always that way.

One of his earliest arrest mugshots, in October 2009 when he was just 18, shows a fresh faced Hardister, with floppy hair and not a tattoo in sight, flashing a cheeky grin to the camera.

He would go on to be arrested multiple times over the next seven years - mostly for vehicle theft.

And every time he was back at the police station, his mugshot would boast a brand new tattoo.

His first addition appears to have been a neck tattoo, seen in his mugshot from 2011.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

By the following year he had added a teardrop - which can represent that a suspect has murdered someone or had someone close to them killed - and had bright yellow hair when arrested for car theft.

In his 2013 mugshot, he had added multiple inkings; a HSL design on his neck, stars on his right cheek, the letter F on his other cheek, and floral designs up to his forehead.

The following year he added 'SS' in between his eyebrows in February and by the end of 2014, when he was arrested in October, he had thick swathes of black ink on his face, "stitches" for eyebrows and the word 'dead' tattooed across his head.

He has continued to add to his facial tattoos and when he was arrested in July last year, his face was covered.

"I really don't know what he has going on," said Parker Beaudoin, a veteran tattoo artist told the Palm Beach Post. "He's got a lot of everything."

Beaudoin believed that most of Hardister's tattoos were 'done either at a house or prison' with homemade tools, like a guitar string.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hardister has been arrested at least five times in Palm Beach County alone. He was jailed for nine months in 2012 for motor vehicle theft.

The habitual offender was arrested on February 15, 2013, by Tequesta police for an out-of-town warrant and then just two days later on several charges including burglary.

He was arrested again in July that year for a probation violation.

His arrest on September 23 came after police found him sleeping behind the wheel of a reportedly stolen pickup truck in a Walmart parking lot.

Hardister told police he paid a friend $20 to borrow the truck so he could move some furniture into his new place.He claimed he had no idea it was stolen.

After his current arrest for the theft of the Chrysler and the parole violation, Hardister was booked into the St Johns County Sheriff's Office Inmate Facility on no bond.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from World

World
|Updated

Trump suggests Americans 'like a dictator'

World

Trump's hurdles to winning a Nobel Peace Prize

World

Nazi looted art discovered after 80 years thanks to real estate ad


Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

Trump suggests Americans 'like a dictator'
World
|Updated

Trump suggests Americans 'like a dictator'

Trump: 'A lot of people are saying: ‘Maybe we like a dictator' ... I’m not a dictator.'

25 Aug 11:48 PM
Trump's hurdles to winning a Nobel Peace Prize
World

Trump's hurdles to winning a Nobel Peace Prize

25 Aug 11:30 PM
Nazi looted art discovered after 80 years thanks to real estate ad
World

Nazi looted art discovered after 80 years thanks to real estate ad

25 Aug 11:03 PM


Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

10 Aug 09:12 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP