Thief caught during quake damage assessment

Police said the offender was a European aged in his 20s about 180cm tall. Photo / File

A property owner and a builder who were meeting to assess earthquake damage found someone already at work on the house - stealing a hot water cylinder.

The Oram Ave, New Brighton, house owner, Gary, who asked that his surname not be published, said they heard noises when they arrived at the house.

"We just walked in the door and heard a bit of a scraping sound. I walked around into the bedroom and this guy started walking out. He had a spade with him but he put that down.

"I asked him what the hell he was doing and he said he was under pressure from a group of people to take the cylinder."

Gary said the man tried to push past him.

"We had a bit of a scuffle - not a major one - and he did a runner."

Gary and the builder gave chase and caught the man after he tried to scale a high fence, but he broke free and took off toward the New Brighton Mall.

Gary said the offender was "dressed tidy, not scruffy" but had large initials tattooed around his neck and a distinctive Celtic cross tattoo on the back of one of his hands.

It was the second time the house he and his wife bought to rent to their son has been vandalised since the earthquakes.

"It's been wide open since a fire wall collapsed but our insurance company and EQC have refused to secure it," he said.

Police said the offender was a European aged in his 20s about 180cm tall, of slim build, wearing a black and grey hoodie with a zigzag pattern, dark pants, a hat and shoes with a very bright blue sole.

"This sort of offending preys on vulnerable people, who have already suffered loss," Senior Sergeant Phil Dean said. "We want to put a stop to it."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Senior Sergeant Dean on 03 374 1762, or anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.