Police interview accused thief who posed as miner

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Timaru police have found a man who allegedly posed as a Pike River miner to steal from a family who befriended him on Christmas Eve.

Kurow constable Craig Bennett said police picked up the man in Timaru this morning and he was being interviewed.

Mr Bennett said the man had claimed to be a Pike River miner who had recently separated from his wife.

He was hitchhiking from Dunedin on Christmas Eve when he meet a family from Tokarahi, about 35 kilometres from Oamaru.

He stayed with the family for two days before leaving at night with their car and more than $2000 in cash and cheques.

The man left a note saying he was doing a "small job", but had not returned.

"Pulling on the heartstrings with an absolute tragedy in New Zealand history puts him right down at the lower end of the humanity scale," Mr Bennett told Fairfax Media.

The family had given "everything extra that they had", including hosting the man on Christmas Day.

"They actually bought a Christmas present for him because they felt sorry for him spending Christmas alone, and lent him some money to try to help him get back on his feet," Mr Bennett said.

"The way he shows his gratitude for their hospitality is to take their car and money and bugger off."

They were not likely to fall victim easily, but the man's story was "very thorough".

"I would imagine he's done this before," Mr Bennett said.

The man had previously used the names Jim McLaren, Eric Tennyson and Ed Tanderson.

The man had also been wanted by police in relation to the theft of a red 1996 Subaru Imprezza, registration DAH599, and the cashing of a $1250 cheque in Oamaru.

- NZPA