Jail likely for national park tourist thefts

A 42-year-old man who admitted raiding tourists' cars at Mount Aspiring National Park has been told to put his affairs in order before sentencing.

Christchurch District Court judge Stephen Erber remanded Craig Douglas Steere, a beneficiary, on bail until July 14 for a Crown sentencing session after he admitted seven charges of thefts from cars.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Brocas said Steere and two other men were stopped on the road out of Mount Aspiring National Park on February 21.

Their car was found to be full of camping and tramping gear, including a portable refrigerator, taken from cars left at the car park at Raspberry Flat.

Three vehicles had been broken into and items belonging to seven people had been taken by Steere. Three of the victims were Dutch nationals here on holiday. The value of property taken was $9186. Only a jacket was not found, and a small amount of reparation was sought.

Judge Erber said that because of the sensitivities towards this kind of offending against tourists, defence counsel Michael Starling should advise his client to "get his affairs in order" before sentencing.

- NZPA