'Shopping list' full of hottest ticket items

With a shopping list stuffed in his pocket, Simon Rameka set off.

His partner had listed the items she wanted to furnish their Rotorua home.

He was to get a chrome fridge, chrome bread maker - and anything else chrome - a rimu blanket box, iron and ironing board, cordless phone, PlayStations, "heaps" of wine, DVDs, a computer, gas heater, washing machine and other household goods.

There were also instructions: "Don't get caught."

Over the next three months Rameka burgled at least 10 houses in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, stealing property worth $214,850.

Police found the list after Rameka and a companion were stopped leaving Cambridge following a burglary.

Rameka, 32, an unemployed labourer of Rotorua, pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court to 10 charges of burglary.

He was remanded in custody for sentencing next month.

The court was told a Cambridge police officer saw Rameka driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle with trailer on Victoria St.

An hour later, the vehicle was seen leaving the town laden with $6500 of goods, including televisions, a microwave, fax machine, cordless phone and expensive set of Callaway golf clubs.

Rameka was unable to name the brand of the clubs and was taken to the police station. He confessed to the burglaries only when police found his "shopping list".

The court was told the list was written by his partner, Dana Corbett.

On August 14, Rameka stole more than $20,000 worth of goods from a Cambridge house, including a set of medals from the Boer War.

The following afternoon, Rameka stole goods worth more than $20,000 from a house on the outskirts of Cambridge.

None of these goods has been recovered.

Then on August 20, a cobblestone was thrown through the window of a Cambridge house and the home ransacked.

A handmade Indian rug, television, guitar, video recorder and three leather jackets were stolen.

Rameka told police he had travelled out of town to commit the burglaries because Rotorua was "too hot".

One day he made three return trips.

Prosecutor Jonothan Briscoe told the court: "He told police, if other people had it, it was okay for him to have it too. Only he wanted to steal it, not earn it."

- NZPA