September 29, 2011

Redcliffs quake house burglaries admitted

By David Clarkson at Christchurch Men's Prison

Police allege three Christchurch men got property worth $5000 by raiding a large number of quake-abandoned Redcliffs properties.

One of the three was remanded in custody for sentence when he pleaded guilty today and the other two are staying locked up on remand without plea for about two weeks.

Karl Stephen McDowell, a 26-year-old kitchen hand, pleaded guilty to three house burglaries, at a Christchurch District Court session inside the men?s prison today.

All of the properties were in Searidge Lane, Redcliffs, and were said to have been burgled between September 2 and 4.

Police prosecutor Bronwen Skea told Judge Jane Farish that McDowell was found at 10.30pm on September 4 in an area where there were many abandoned red-zoned properties.

Many houses had been entered and stolen items were found in the group?s bags and backpacks, she said. It was not known which houses the property had come from, but its value was estimated at more than $5000.

McDowell told police he was ?just having a walk? but he pleaded guilty today and agreed with Judge Farish when she said his previous convictions for burglary ruled out home detention.

She remanded him in custody for sentencing at the Rangiora Court House on December 8.

The two alleged co-offenders are Shane Peter Grooby, 31 and unemployed, and Benjamin Anthony Webster, 21 and unemployed. They were remanded in custody to October 11 without plea on two burglary charges. Webster is also charged with possession of a cannabis pipe.