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Police say a smooth-talking, prolific fraudster, nicknamed Romeo because of his way with the ladies, has stolen up to $12,000 a day since being released from prison six months ago.
Enayatullah Mohmand has been jailed three times in the past four years for credit card fraud.
Using the alias Romeo because he "thinks of himself as ladies' man", he has allegedly been thieving from Auckland's poshest suburbs - then conning shop assistants into cashing cheques and accepting stolen credit cards. Dozens of victims across Auckland have come forward - some hit twice - and police claim they can identify Mohmand from his unique modus operandi.
Detective Tim Traviss says the brazen, articulate and intelligent 22-year-old breaks into vehicles in swanky Remuera, Ponsonby and Parnell under the cover of darkness, taking laptops, cellphones, cameras, briefcases and credit cards.
As soon as businesses open in the morning, Mohmand flirts with female shop staff and charms them into letting him cash cheques and buy thousands of dollars worth of goods on the stolen cards. He signs credit card receipts which often go unchecked by shop staff.
The fraudster is accused of taking between $2000-$12,000 on an almost daily basis since September, buying expensive women's clothing, liquor and car parts which are easy to sell on.
Traviss first arrested Mohmand three years ago. He says he's a repeat offender who won't stop until he's caught. "He's unusual because he's so prolific - most offending tapers off after a while.
"But he's going hard out because he knows once he gets caught he's going to be locked up."
Mohmand often goes under the alias Saiyed Dean. "He'll say he's having a big party and then buy $1000 of liquor. He's... a real charmer. Everyone that has spoken with him says he has the gift of the gab."
Mohmand arrived as a refugee from Afghanistan in 1998 but Traviss says he speaks with a European accent. He has been on the run since August, and police have appealed to the public for information.
Traviss says Mohmand is "extremely paranoid" about being caught, constantly dying his hair, moving from house to house in south and west Auckland, and changing cars to avoid suspicion.
"He's a ladies' man. If any girls out there think he's being faithful, you're wrong," said Traviss.
Mohmand's family have disowned him. His sister, in Hamilton, said she had not heard from him for months.
In December 2004 Mohmand was sentenced to 18 months in prison but was released on parole after six months. He began stealing within days. Last time he was arrested, he spent three months in Mt Eden remand prison but was released by the judge on sentencing. Again, within two days he had breached his conditions, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.
Nearly $100,000 is known to have been stolen, but Traviss believes the total is higher.
