Reality crime show host caught in shop theft

Veronica Jacomb

The host of TV2 programme To Catch A Thief was caught stealing at the time the show was being filmed.

Veronica Jacomb pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to stealing a camera valued at $900.

The reality programme promotes Jacomb, 28, as a reformed thief who has turned her back on crime for solid work.

Yet Jacomb appeared in court on April 29 in the final days of filming and just a few weeks before the show went to air.

The show has also been under fire this week for acting as a primer for burglars, by showing how to break into properties.

The producer of the Screentime programme said yesterday that she was "devastated" to learn of the conviction, which had been kept from the production company by Jacomb.

A police summary of facts said Jacomb and an unnamed male companion went into the Harvey Norman Big Camera shop in Victoria St, central Auckland, on April 25 to fill out a finance purchase agreement.

While a sales assistant was distracted, the man reached behind the counter and took a Panasonic digital camera.

He was seen showing it to Jacomb and both looked around the store.

The man hid the camera in his jacket and walked out of the store. The missing camera was noticed after Jacomb left and staff identified her from security footage. When spoken to by police, Jacomb said she could not stop her companion from taking the camera. It was later recovered. Jacomb was convicted and fined $400 plus court costs of $130.

Jacomb told a probation officer she was not party to theft and claimed she was "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time".

"She explained her situation clearly but was tearful and appeared to be under a lot of stress," the officer's report said.

The probation officer found Jacomb scored low on an assessment of whether she was likely to reoffend.

Jacomb's criminal record began in 1997 and includes convictions for theft, receiving property, common assault, using a document and possession of methamphetamine for supply.

She owed just over $5000 in fines at the time of her appearance. The probation report said she had been given time to pay them and was not behind.

Jacomb did not tell Screentime of her arrest or conviction.

Producer Philly Iles told the Weekend Herald yesterday that Jacomb had breached several clauses in her employment contract.

The company was considering whether to take action for breach of contract. The final episode will screen on Thursday.

Mrs Iles said Jacomb had not been privy to the private security details of homes featured on the show. She said Jacomb had let down herself, the production company and viewers. She had told the production company that taking part in the programme was a "life-changing experience".

Attempts to contact Jacomb were unsuccessful.

In TVNZ publicity for the show, Jacomb says: "I hope the show will give everyone who wants to learn a better knowledge of security, and I hope it helps people to stay safe and feel safe."

A Palmerston woman complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority that her daughter was burgled twice in a style that she believes imitated what was shown on the show.

"I feel we have been victimised twice, once by the burglary and then by that stupid TV programme," said complainant Lorraine Haydock.

"Anyone [inclined] to commit a burglary would surely be associating with people who commit burglaries" and would learn from them.


The authority said the show did not breach any broadcasting practices and it did not invite imitation.  


A used car salesman also believed thieves used the programme to learn skills that helped them to break into his car yard and incapacitate his guard dog.

Bradley Tunnell's Tremaine Auto Sales in Palmerston North was broken into last weekend.

Mr Tunnell said the thieves poisoned his dog with bacon bones, similar to a scenario on the show.

- additional reporting Tony Stickley, NZPA