Thieves have come unstuck after trying to sell stolen wedding rings back to the store their victims bought them from originally. Louisa Neilson and her fiance had their Wanganui home broken into in August and about $15,000 worth of possessions stolen.
Among the items taken were the wedding rings bought from Michael Hill Jeweller in Victoria Ave in February, after they got engaged last year.
Also stolen in the daylight raid were other items of jewellery, a laptop, PS4 and a leather jacket, but Ms Neilson said it was the wedding rings that had the most sentimental value.
And it was the rings which would end up solving the crime. After the theft, one of the gang took the rings to the same Michael Hill store they were bought from and tried to sell them. But a staff member at the counter recognised the rings and knew Miss Neilson and her fiance well.
"He tried to keep him talking and get the rings off him," Miss Neilson said. "[The offender] ended up grabbing the bag and running out the door. Then he went to Cash Converters and sold them for $100."