Men face multiple charges for theft

• Published date: 05 April 2024
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

One is also facing burglary and fraud charges

The pair appeared in the Timaru District Court last Thursday and the police opposed bail.

Oamaru police arrested the men last Wednesday after thefts from tourists’ vehicles.

The 36-year-old was charged with eight counts of theft.

The 19-year-old was charged with five — three of theft from a vehicle, one count of burglary from a North Oamaru fish and chip shop on March 19 and a fraud charge for allegedly using a stolen credit card.

Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said the Oamaru police had been taking victim impact statements and the impact of the thefts had been ‘‘devastating’’.

‘‘They’ve been travelling the world for weeks, sometimes months and they’ve got photos, they’re all gone.

‘‘The sour taste that ... Oamaru has left in their mouth ... will reverberate for a long time, so it’s quite sad.

‘‘One of them ... talked about the privacy of her vehicle that she has travelled in all around New Zealand.

‘‘That [privacy] had been eroded away and broken by this person who broke into the car.

‘‘It’s not just a car being broken into, it’s all their...