Teen used Napier siege as way to steal

A Napier teen took advantage of the siege involving gunman Jan Molenaar, lying his way to a free hotel room before stealing electronics, credit cards and alcohol.

Raniera Ropata Harris, 19, has admitted charges including fraud and burglary and is awaiting sentencing at Napier District Court, The Dominion Post newspaper reported.

Harris was by a police cordon on May 7 when he overheard residents who were unable to return to their homes say they were being sent to hotels.

He and a friend posed as evacuees, providing the Red Cross with false addresses. They were taken to the Tennyson Inn and given a room.

At 2am he was captured on hotel security cameras in the reception and bar, stealing a laptop, cellphone, credit cards, chequebooks, keys and alcohol.

He passed the loot to a friend before heading to another hotel where he used his Red Cross form to score another free room.

A week earlier Harris had also stolen alcohol from Napier's County Hotel, hitting the place twice in one night.

He was being held in custody ahead of his June 3 sentencing and had admitted further charges including stealing cellphones from a house and carrying a knife.

- NZPA