Two jailed for quake burglaries

Some thieves were unable to resist taking advantage of the chaos following Christchurch's earthquake Photo / NZPA/David Wethe

Two men have been jailed for separate burglaries where they "took advantage of people in a vulnerable position" and raided earthquake-damaged properties.

One man took property from a red-stickered house and the other collected sweets and soft drinks from a destroyed shop.

Chocolate factory worker Peter John Blissett, 42, was today jailed for 14 months for burglary.

Christchurch District Court was told he and a co-offender went to a neighbour's house in Armagh Street and removed the hot water cylinder.

They were cutting away the casing to get the copper cylinder inside to sell as scrap metal when the police found them.

His lawyer Lucy Wright told Judge Brian Callaghan that Blissett was under considerable financial pressure after the earthquake.

"His hours of employment were significantly reduced and it became very difficult to make ends meet," she said.

Judge Callaghan said the two men had "taken advantage of people in a vulnerable position" as well as putting rescuers at risk if there was a further earthquake.

Ms Wright said Blissett would inevitably lose his job as a production supervisor at a chocolate factory, and the jail term would upset the close relationship he had enjoyed with his young grandchildren.

In a separate case Richard James Alexander, a 38-year-old unemployed man, admitted charges of burglary, having tools for burglary, and having tools for using drugs.

He went to a wrecked dairy, which was condemned and fenced off, and took items worth about $200.

"He sees the offence as fossicking but he understands he should not have done it," said defence counsel Moana Cole.

Alexander's scavenging was seen by people and police were called.

Judge Callaghan jailed him for 10 months but granted leave for him to apply during the sentence for home detention to be allowed.

- NZPA