KEY POINTS:
A plan by burglars to steal security cameras while on the job in Hamilton so they would not be caught has back fired.
Hamilton police believe thieves were stealing security cameras from shops before they burgled them so they would not be caught on camera.
Senior Sergeant Tim Anderson said in the past two weeks five burglaries had targeted security cameras.
"In one case thieves removed four cameras from around one store while one street in Frankton has had eight cameras stolen," he said.
However, one of the thieves has been caught on camera.
"An image of a man we believe responsible for the theft of a CCTV camera from Killarney Rd store was captured.
"It shows a balding male Caucasian with facial hair wearing black jeans and a red and black top."
"Two Ellis St businesses were also targeted over the same period, one by a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jacket with the hood pulled over his face and the other by two Caucasian males," he said.
Mr Anderson said in each case the cameras were working until they were pulled from the wall by the thieves.
"It's too early to say if it was the same people responsible for stealing the cameras that were responsible for the burglaries but it is certainly a focus of our inquiries."
He said anyone with information should call Hamilton Police on (07) 858 6200 or leave details on the confidential crimeline, 0800 Busthem (0800 2878436).
- NZPA
