Bungling burglar leaves ID behind

An attempted smash and grab for cigarettes turned into a smoking gun for Kumeu police after the alleged burglar left behind his birth certificate and bank statements.

On the morning of October 1 two offenders smashed their way into the Caltex Gas Station in Waimauku, Kumeu police Sergeant David Orr says.

The duo allegedly smashed the front door and broke into three cigarette cabinets inside the station with what appeared to be an axe. Unfortunately for them the manager of the gas station had removed all the cigarettes from these cabinets and they left empty handed, Orr says.

Police allege the pair then went to a Waimauku address and broke into a vehicle parked in a driveway. Orr says the alleged thieves rummaged through the car before stealing some items.

‘‘When leaving the car, one of the offenders has left a backpack he was carrying in the vehicle. This backpack contained the offender’s birth certificate and a couple of bank statements,’’ Orr says.

When police visited the alleged thief at his home address nearby they located most of the victim’s property hidden under his bed. A 17-year-old Waimauku man is currently before the courts on charges of burglary and theft ex car, Orr says.

He says the actions of the Waimauku Caltex, in taking proactive steps to prevent themselves becoming further victimised, are to be praised. The Kumeu sergeant says the alleged burglar was also a huge help.

The Waimauku Caltex break in comes as Gull New Zealand introduced New Zealand’s first anti-theft tobacco dispenser at its Rosebank Rd, Avondale, service station last week in a bid to discourage aggravated robberies for cigarettes.

Part safe and part dispenser, the unit - a grey metal box - stores tobacco under the counter with a controlled delivery system that allows only one packet of tobacco to be released at a time.

‘‘Tobacco can only be delivered once it has been selected through the point of sale system, meaning no sale, no tobacco – and no thefts,’’ chief operating officer Ulrik Olsen says.

The machine is constructed from heavy duty steel and cost more than $30,000.