Hokitika underwear thief caught on victims’ CCTV
Two West Coast women had to put up closed-circuit television cameras to catch a burglar repeatedly breaking into their home to steal underwear.
Devon Eckersley, 34, was jailed for two years and two months when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court on charges relating to a spree of burglaries in Hokitika in October and November last year.
He was caught on CCTV footage prowling around and attempting to open a window at the home of two women, who had been complaining to police about multiple break-ins involving worn underwear going missing from their rooms.
The women, in letters to the court, said they felt that the police did not take their reports seriously enough.
A police spokeswoman said each offence reported to police was investigated. ‘‘Appropriate investigative steps were taken, in accordance with the available evidence,’’ she said.
One of the women, who did not want to be named, said in her letter that Eckersley’s offending was ‘‘highly emotionally stressful’’.
‘‘[T]he police did not put anything in place that would put safety first for victims of not only burglary, but also sexual harmful behaviour,’’ she said.
A friend of the women, James Eagle, was charged himself by police after threatening Eckersley in a bid to get him to stay away.
The women had noticed their underwear going missing on several occasions, he said.
On November 5, they discovered cash, a head torch and underwear had gone missing from their home. They laid a complaint with police.
Eagle said he suspected Eckersley, who lived 100 metres away. When Eagle confronted him, Eckersley admitted breaking into the women’s house, but denied taking the underwear. Eagle warned him to stay away.
The women told police about the confession and reported another break-in on November 16, where someone broke in through a window, stole an SD card out of a security camera, and again took underwear.
On November 21, Eckersley was seen by one of the women parked next to the house, but when she called police he was neither arrested nor trespassed from their home.
On November 23, police arrested Eagle and charged him with burglary. Two days later, after another complaint to police, Eckersley was issued a trespass notice. However, four days later he returned.
This time he was caught on CCTV clearly stalking the property, and trying to break in through a window.
Eckersley was charged with burglary and wilful trespass. He admitted to police he took the cash and torch, but denied taking underwear.
While being questioned by police, he confessed to eight other burglaries around Hokitika.
In court, Judge Jane McMeeken said Eckersley was guilty of a spree of burglaries. ‘‘You burgled homes and businesses, and this was clearly fuelled by your methamphetamine addiction. You stole from friends, you stole from neighbours, you stole items of immense sentimental value.
‘‘You stole items of financial value and as you know, your actions caused ongoing stress and concern.’’
The victims had sought reparation of more than $30,000 for stolen cash, gold, pounamu, jewellery and household items. Judge McMeeken ordered Eckersley to pay half of the reparation sought.