Gun shop theft accused makes a rapid exit
A man charged with stealing from Gun City made a rapid departure from the Christchurch Court House today, possibly after hearing that the police were going to try to get him locked up.
Christchurch District Court Judge Gary MacAskill issued an arrest warrant for James Edward George Jones at midday when his case was called for a first appearance and he was not present.
Duty lawyer April Kelland said the 31-year-old Selwyn man had been at the Court House and had been interviewed. She said she had filled out a legal aid application for him but he had since disappeared.
After being arrested, Jones was released on police bail and summoned to appear at court today, but it is understood that the police had decided they would make a verbal application to the judge for him to be held in custody.
Jones was arrested after Gun City owner David Tipple posted CCTV video online and asked for help to identify the person in the footage.
It was alleged that the man had arrived at the store with a woman on January 10, and had moved around the store before leaving about 15min later. The theft was discovered by store staff when they did a routine security footage check next day.
Jones is charged with stealing an ATN night vision unit valued at $18,000 from the store in Cranford Street, Papanui.
Category: Focus
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Connect
Connect with us via: