Stolen brake kit sold for $2200

A Trade Me sale gave away a man who stole from the Porirua company where he had worked for eight years.

Paraparaumu resident Damon Makiri, 37, appeared at Porirua District Court last week and pleaded guilty to one charge of theft.

Police prosecutor Paul Macky said that between April 20 and 26, Makiri was at work at Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand in Heriot Drive, Porirua, when he stole a Brembo brake kit valued at $9604.72.

Macky said Makiri took it off a shelf with the forklift, then placed it in the back of his car outside the warehouse.

On April 26 he listed the item on Trade Me and it was bought for $2260 on April 29.

The buyer transferred money to Makiri’s account.

Police were then alerted to the auction.

Makiri’s lawyer, Sonia Thistoll, said he had stolen the item because he wanted to get a nice present for his child’s birthday.

‘‘ It’s an extremely bad decision in a very fraught financial decision,’’ Thistoll said.

She said his partner and children had no idea the offending had taken place.

‘‘His whole family has been visibly affected by this.’’

Judge John Walker convicted Makiri and sentenced him to 80 hours community work and $2260 in reparation.

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