Family get their stolen Christmas presents back

Burglars caught in the act by a CCTV camera in Karaka. Photo / Supplied

It was better late than never for a family who were able to open Christmas presents this week after one of the burglars who stole their gifts was caught by police.

Police have charged a woman who was captured on a neighbour's CCTV camera acting as a lookout while others snatched the family's presents from under the Christmas tree and ransacked the house in Karaka, South Auckland.

The neighbour posted the woman's image on Facebook the same day of the break-in, a few days before Christmas. The image was viewed by almost 11,000 people and resulted in information being passed to police.

But despite an enthusiastic response from the public, and police inquiries as far south as Ngaruawahia, Hamilton and Napier, the suspects were not caught.

But after the Herald on Sunday ran a photograph and story on New Year's Day, Constable Scott Penney of the Papakura police said police received new information and searched a South Auckland address.

The woman captured on the CCTV footage was found at that address with a large amount of stolen goods that have since been returned to the owners, including the missing presents from Karaka, Penney said.

Police investigations were continuing to catch the woman's co-offenders.