A ring worth almost $60,000 was stolen from a jewellery store in February. A man has now been charged with theft. Photograph / New Zealand Police
A man has handed himself in after allegedly stealing diamond rings worth more than $100,000 from Auckland jewellery stores.
On February 7 a man was in the Henderson Westfield branch of the Michael Hill chain.
He was handed a white gold solitaire-cut diamond ring worth $60,000.
He then fled the store, taking the ring with him.
On December 13 the same man allegedly asked to look at a $36,000 diamond solitaire ring at a jewellery store on Elliott St in Auckland's CBD.
Again, once handed the ring, he allegedly ran off with it.
Police conducted a number of inquiries following the theft but there was no arrest until December 28 when the alleged thief walked into Auckland Central Police Station and handed himself in.
The 31-year-old has been charged with theft in relation to the two rings, worth almost $100,000 in total.
He is also facing charges relating to another theft from earlier this year.
He appeared in Auckland District Court on December 29 and is due to re-appear on 26 April 2018.
Two 19-year-olds are among four arrested in the Boy Taylor homicide inquiry.