Victim says even food from fridge stolen

Two men accused of burglary in Northland are denying the charges.

An engineer returned to his Northland bach to find his holiday home burgled with even food from the fridge and pantry stolen.

James Harvey, who lives in Levin but owns a holiday home at Dolphin Place in Tutukaka, had a number of items stolen from his bach that he believed happened sometime between June 2 and 14, 2014.

A statement he gave police was read in Whangarei District Court during the trial of two Northland men who have denied embarking on a 10-month theft and burglary spree of bachs and homes in coastal and rural areas of the region, and stealing items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Jeremy Lyndon Tuhiwai is accused of the burglary of coastal and rural holiday homes throughout Northland spanning nearly a year.

Jeremy Lyndon Tuhiwai, 43, and Paraire Pou, 39, have pleaded not guilty before a jury in Whangarei District Court to 38 charges that resulted from 18 incidents between mid-August 2013 and mid 2014. Tuhiwai is facing 10 charges of receiving, six of burglary, and two of theft while Pou is charged with seven counts of receiving, three of burglary and three of theft.

Paraire Pou is charged with a string of burglaries in coastal and rural properties throughout Northland.

Both men are also jointly facing three charges of burglary, two of theft and two of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. Boats and diving gear were among items they are alleged to have stolen.

Mr Harvey said he returned to his bach on June 14, 2014 and discovered a tool box, a fishing rod, alcohol, a camera, socket sets and a speaker were among items stolen. The front glass door of his bach was smashed and the garage door was forced open. The case continues.