Jail for burglars caught on camera

The burglary careers of Jason Gibbs and Joshua Shane Rodgers came to an abrupt halt when a quick-thinking victim blocked their getaway vehicle in her driveway and photographed them on a cellphone.

The pair, who had been targeting homes in the southern Christchurch suburbs, have now begun prison terms after their sentencing in Christchurch District Court today.

Gibbs was jailed for four years six months and Rodgers got a three year six month term. Gibbs also faces a non-parole term of two years six months as part of his sentence and Rodgers was disqualified from driving for a year.

Both are 21 and unemployed.

Gibbs admitted 19 burglaries, damaging a car, unlawfully taking a car, theft, dishonestly using a document, and breach of his prison release conditions.

Rodgers admitted seven burglaries, three charges of receiving stolen property from Gibbs, unlawfully taking a car, driving while disqualified, driving with a sustained loss of traction, and theft.

The reparation bill from their offending amounted to more than $50,000 and there was no prospect of repayment so no order was made.

The court was told that to finance his lifestyle, Gibbs burgled up to 10 houses a day until the woman's cellphone picture provided police with instant identification.

When he was arrested, he took police around the area pointing out the burglaries he could recall.

Nineteen homes were identified, but crown prosecutor Kathy Basire said police were convinced there were many more.

His offending had left many children afraid to go to sleep.

His counsel Elizabeth Bulger said he was committed to making changes in his life because he was sick of being in prison. She urged Judge David Saunders not to impose a crushing sentence.

Rodgers' counsel Richard Peters said his client did not face as many charges as Gibbs and did not have the same lengthy criminal history.

Judge Saunders told Gibbs he was assessed as having a 92 per cent risk of being reimprisoned within five years of his release.

He needed to do the programmes available in prison and prove that he could be trusted in the community.

The judge told Rodgers he had thumbed his nose at authority, but had now written a letter expressing his remorse and apologising for the crimes he had been involved in.

- NZPA