Quake looter caught red-handed

Andrew Reeves removes personal items from his flat that was damaged during the Christchurch 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Photo / Greg Bowker

A Christchurch drug addict has admitted burgling alcohol and a cash register from a central city sports bar in the hours after the city's big quake.

Kyle Paul McEntee, an unemployed 28-year-old who has been on the methadone programme, entered the Holy Grail bar through a door which had been released electronically during the earthquake on September 4, Christchurch District Court was told today.

He helped himself to 32 bottles of alcohol, two cans of energy drink, and a cash register and was stopped nearby carrying the spoils away from the scene.

McEntee pleaded guilty today to burglary.

Judge Brian Callaghan ordered a pre-sentence report with a report on McEntee's suitability for home or community detention. He was remanded in custody to October 20 for sentence.

An unemployed 28-year-old accused of burgling a house in Edgeware Road and a dairy in Barbadoes Street the day after the earthquake was further remanded on bail to October 4.

Daniel Ezekiel Peneha, has entered no pleas but at his first appearance in court on September 6, the judge referred to the offences as being related to the earthquake.

Shannon William Johnson, 19, a mechanic, admitted the burglary of a damaged and abandoned house in Avonside at 8.30pm on the day of the earthquake.

The court was told Johnson and another offender, who has already pleaded guilty, entered the house through a window and began gathering up items. The householder returned and saw them and they were arrested short time later with a bag full of loot.

Judge Callaghan remanded Johnson for sentence on November 30. He ordered a pre-sentence report with an assessment of his suitability for home or community detention.

He granted bail but warned Johnson: "The court will take a stern view to this type of offending."

Dillon John Palmer, 17, admitted charges of burglary and possession of a pipe for smoking cannabis.

He entered a cafe through an insecure door and filled backpacks with soft drinks before being found by police. He had the cannabis pipe in his bag.

Palmer was remanded on bail to November 30 for sentencing, with a pre-sentence report covering his suitability for home or community detention.

Timothy Brian Hurst, 28, was further remanded without plea and with his 24-hour a day bail curfew relaxed, to October 4. Hurst will now have to be at home from 6pm to 8am. He has entered no plea to two burglary charges. Police allege he was the co-offender with Peneha.

Deon Mathew Rich, 17, unemployed, was remanded without plea to October 4, on a charge of burgling the cafe in Wrights Road. He was granted permission to change to another address while on bail.

- NZPA