Jewel thief admits to rooftop raid in Chch

CHRISTCHURCH: A sneaky rooftop raider has admitted a $280,000 jewel heist but mystery surrounds $100,000 of lost loot.

Craig Murray Shaw (43) crept on to the roof of The Tannery, a shopping complex in the Christchurch suburb of Woolston, on the night of Saturday, November 25 last year.

Shaw slipped inside through a rooftop skylight and smashed his way into La Bu jewellery shop, which specialises in Turkish and Middle Eastern unique handmade sterling silver and semiprecious stone jewellery.

Police said about 2700 items were stolen, valued at $280,000.

Detectives soon suspected Shaw but it took months to track him down.

An anonymous tipoff led them to a property where Shaw was staying on January 21.

During a search of the address, police say they found ‘‘physical evidence linking [Shaw] directly to this offence’’, according to a summary of facts at Christchurch District Court yesterday.

But only 1700 pieces of stolen jewellery, valued at $176,000, were recovered.

Shaw admitted one charge of burglary.

Judge Tony Couch remanded him in custody to be sentenced on October 18.

Police are seeking an order from the court for $104,000 in reparation to be paid to La Bu for the unrecovered stolen property, and another $2000 to The Tannery for damage caused during the breakin. — NZME