Raids to feed family
Desperate to feed his family, a burglar emptied out the chiller of a Taranaki cafe three times in the space of a fortnight.
During two of the burglaries in January 2018, Matthew Joseph Thomas had help, but for the third he went alone, stealing $1000 worth of food, including chicken, sausages and cheese.
Other food items scored in the cafe raids included scotch fillet steaks, smoked salmon, cream, milk and salads.
When interviewed by police about these burglaries, along with two additional ones, Thomas admitted his role and told officers he committed the crimes to provide for his family.
He appeared in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday and received a jail term of three years.
The police summary of the case provided full details of the 28-year-old’s recent burglary spree.
Sometime overnight between January 26 and 27 this year, Thomas was with two associates near the Kiwi Butcher Shop on Waitara’s McLean St.
Thomas squeezed through an opening in a fence at the back of the property and he went over to the padlocked chiller. He forcibly opened the door, damaging the handle and lock in the process.
The summary of facts explained how this triggered an alarm inside the chiller and Thomas took off, leaving the door slightly ajar.
By the time the victim arrived to discover the burglary, the meat – worth $5000 – had spoiled.
On the same night, the group travelled to The Eden Cafe in Bell Block and broke into the cafe’s chiller. Scotch fillet steaks, smoked salmon, cream, milk and salads were among the food items swiped.
The following night, Thomas and an associate returned to the cafe and carried out the exact same crime, cutting the chiller’s padlocks and making off with the food inside.
On February 9, 2018 the defendant targeted The Eden Cafe for a third time, but this time on his own. While there, he stole $1000 worth of food.
The following day, Thomas was with two co-offenders at the Checkers Fast Food store on Corbett Rd, near Bell Block.
A stone was used to smash the window and Thomas entered the shop and began to look for cigarettes to steal. He picked up a box, which he thought contained tobacco, but later discovered it was full of receipts.
Thomas was interviewed by police on February 12, 2018 and made full admissions to officers about his role in the burglaries. He told them he was ‘‘looking for food for his family’’ in relation to the burglaries of the butcher and cafe.
Checkers Fast Food was targeted specifically for cigarettes as Thomas said they were ‘‘so expensive’’.
The defendant, who has a crudelydrawn fist tattooed on his face, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, along with charges of wilful damage, unlawful possession of an air gun and failing to answer bail.
Defence lawyer Megan Boyd sought further credit to offset Thomas’ jail term and argued he had been remorseful and willing to attend restorative justice. She said the defendant had also made full and frank admissions to the police, all points which were accepted by Judge Chris Sygrove.