Judge Duncan Harvey said Ruwhiu was entitled to credit for her guilty plea, which came at the earliest possible opportunity, and all the property she stole had been returned.
"Imagine if, upon leaving court today, you got home and found that while you had been out somebody entered your house and ripped you off," Judge Harvey told Ruwhiu.
"If you could have some idea of how you would feel [if that happened] you will know how the owner of this property feels.
"You can't afford to do this again."
Judge Harvey sentenced Ruwhiu to 100 hours of community work.