Video thief convicted

Making cash on the side selling stolen movies through Trade Me proved bad business for a Havelock North man.

Brendan Hall, 29, was working in United Video in Hastings and Flaxmere when he decided to start his sideline business - stealing DVDs and movies from the store and selling them on the internet auction site.

In Hastings District Court police prosecutor Dean Goodall said between January and August, Hall removed movies from the "for sale" section of the store and sold them over the internet, sometimes in bulk.

When police searched his house, 63 videos were found and several pirated ones, which Hall claimed were for his own use.

Mr Goodall said $4489.04 was sought in reparations, the amount police believed Hall made from the sale of the films.

Hall's lawyer Richard Stone said the amount was disputed. Hall was convicted and remanded on bail for sentence on October 14.

- NZPA