Ex-employee’s angry spending spree

A Christchurch man bought more than $15,000 worth of construction tools under the names of former employers.

Yoon Suk Choi, 38, was caught in Blenheim on his way to Auckland with a haul of tools in his car on May 26. He told police he bought the tools using the accounts of three construction companies he had previously worked for because he was angry they would not give him enough work.

A police summary of facts said Choi went to seven different stores in Christchurch and bought tools in 12 transactions between March and May this year, spending $15,237 in total.

He bought a drill set, nail gun, jigsaw, grinder, circular saw, battery pack, two reciprocating saws and a variety of hand tools and supplies, from Carters in Rangiora, central Christchurch and Hornby; Placemakers Hornby and Riccarton; Bunnings Warehouse Shirley; and Hilti Power Tools.

Choi returned to Placemakers Riccarton on April 17 and attempted to buy several Makita power tools on a trade account..

However checkout staff asked for an order number or employee identification, which Choi could not provide and he left without completing the purchase. He was later declined four more times, at Placemakers Hornby, twice at Placemakers Kaiapoi and at Placemakers Riccarton, but was declined each time as he did not have employee identification.

Choi admitted 12 charges of obtaining by deception at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday.

Judge David Ruth sentenced Choi to 12 months’ home detention at his Auckland home. Some of the tools, marked with his English name ‘Andrew’, could not be resold. More than $3000 in reparation was sought by the companies, but Choi was now unemployed so Judge Ruth did not order reparation.

However the companies could still sue Choi to recoup their losses, Judge Ruth said.