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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Prolific shoplifter who reoffended after being bailed 13 times says she ‘stole to survive'
By By Belinda Feek, Open Justice reporter of Bianca Thomas is estimated to have stolen about $10,000 worth of groceries, clothing and petrol between July and December. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller A prolific shoplifter with a "major problem" stealing from retail outlets and supermarkets says she was stealing "to survive". "I can't get by on the $120 I get per week from Winz," Bianca Crystal Thomas told police after being arrested in August last year. The 23-year-old spent many months of 2024 filling trolleys full of groceries or concealing clothing on herself and leaving stores, either in Hamilton or Auckland, without paying. Judge Noel Cocurullo noted during her sentencing in the Hamilton District Court today that she had been granted bail 13 times and reoffended each time. "You left court on bail and went back out and continued to steal. "You did that on a large number of occasions. "Regrettably, and sadly, Miss Thomas, the only way we could stop you from stealing was to remand you in custody." She is estimated to have stolen about $10,000 worth of groceries, clothing and petrol between July and December. That time behind bars "has been a wake-up call for her", Thomas' counsel Rhiannon Scott told the judge as she urged him not to send her client to jail on 42 theft, trespass and driving while suspended charges. But Judge Cocurullo said he struggled to believe that given the repetitive nature of her offending. Thomas was trespassed from all Countdown - now Woolworths - supermarkets in Hamilton and its wider surrounds in January 2024. Between August and December last year, she committed 13 petrol drive-offs around the Waikato and Auckland regions. On 10 of those occasions, she was driving either her own or her mother's car displaying either stolen or crudely altered registration plates; she used black tape to try to amend a letter or number. Court documents describe Thomas as a "recidivist shoplifter" who is "increasing in aggression". In June last year, she went into Woolworths St Lukes, filled a small trolley with $270 worth of groceries and left without paying. The following month, she and a co-offender went to the men's department in Farmers Chartwell and picked out five hoodies and a pair of pants. The pair went into a changing room to try to conceal them before walking out. The stolen clothing was worth about $500. Two days later, Thomas and an accomplice went to Farmers at The Base in Hamilton and put pants, socks and a T-shirt into her co-offender's backpack. This time, they were stopped and handed the items back. On 17 July, she was in Auckland at St Luke's Woolworths and stole about $1200 worth of produce, meat, seafood and beer. The following month, Thomas filled a basket full of menswear items from Farmers Glenfield after being spotted by security. When confronted by the store manager, she became "angry" and snatched the basket back before running off with the items. Woolworths Herne Bay, Birkenhead, Milford and Rototuna were all targeted in August last year. When arrested, she told police: "I only steal to survive. I can't get by on the $120 I get per week from Winz." Thomas then struck at New World Hillcrest and Pak'nSave Mill St within a day of each other in February this year, with co-offenders, stealing a further $350 of grocery items. Scott and Judge Cocurullo briefly butted heads over Thomas' behaviour on bail. Scott said her client shouldn't get an uplift for offending on bail because of the totality principle, which effectively prevents a sentence from becoming excessively long. "She's going to get one," the judge responded. "It's significant ... I count 13 occasions she was released from the court on bail. "She had chance after chance, and her response was to steal." Thomas had engaged with the Mason Clinic and if she was sentenced to home detention, she would also get support from Oranga Tamariki, which would pay for counselling, clothing, food allowances and housing. As for what would stop her offending, Scott said her client's time in custody "has certainly been a wake-up call for her". Judge Cocorullo was not in the mood to mince his words today. "You have a major problem with stealing from retailers. "You have gone out and systemically and profoundly stolen again, bringing you to court and releasing you on bail did not stop you from doing that on a large number of occasions. "All of this retail stealing affects retailers' bottom lines and their fiscal viability. "The breadth and seriousness of your offending, together with aspects of deterrence and denunciation, means that, for you, Miss Thomas, regretfully, I do not get to the position where I can give you home detention. "The only sentence I can properly land, given how expansive your offending is, is a sentence of imprisonment." Thomas, who was supported in court by her mother, sister and brother, was jailed for 21 months and disqualified from driving for six months. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Glen Innes Winz fire: Shopkeeper had only just moved in before blaze destroyed shop
Fifteen firefighting crews from stations around the city descended on the East Auckland suburb and contained the fire by about 10.30am, leaving cordons around the surrounding streets. This morning, the building was boarded up and security guards were on-site. 'The shop is now a scene of utter destruction, with large holes in the roof, twisted metal, blackened walls, and debris and water everywhere,' Chan said. 'To say that [Li] is devastated would be an understatement.' Li's disappointment was boosted by the fact her shop opening was coming after roadworks plaguing the shopping centre had ended and there was an expectation foot traffic would increase. 'The centre has faced disruption from the major roadworks and there have been few new stores except for two vape stores. She was excited to ... continue to serve her loyal customers,' Chan said. Li did not yet have her stock insured. Her new landlord had just painted the shop, had new carpet and linoleum laid, and plumbing and lighting fitted. Li had also invested in new shelves and fittings. 'She is faced with replacing everything and finding a new location, as the building is likely to be demolished,' Chan said. 'The community will rally around her and she has to allow people to help her. Wendy is a very proud business person.' He has set up a Givealittle page to fundraise for her. Fire and Emergency revealed to the Herald this morning that its investigation had found the case was accidental, not suspicious. Chan understood from conversations with Li's landlord that the fire was caused by an electrical issue with the air conditioning inside the Work and Income (Winz) office. The Ministry of Social Development, responsible for Winz, has been approached for comment on updates to its office space. Questions about the fire's cause were deferred to Fire and Emergency.
