A woman who stole nearly $450,000 from a prominent Auckland couple could not be sentenced as planned today as the presiding judge knew her victims.

A man who "combed" Auckland looking for frail and vulnerable elderly women to con has been labelled a "menace" and sent to prison - again.

When Jenny Kidd realised her elderly aunt had been ripped off to the tune of $21,000 she was horrified - and then angry.

Internal Affairs Minister and Napier MP Chris Tremain has requested a report into how a British killer managed to obtain a New Zealand passport issued in the name of a severely brain-damaged Hastings man.

A brazen thief distracted staff and stole money from a young Greytown boy's fundraiser for his sick grandfather.

Like all the best fabled morality tales this one begins in a walk-in wardrobe.

A former North Island mayor has applied for the High Court to dismiss some of the charges he is facing in a Serious Fraud Office case.

A Hawkes Bay teacher with a conviction for aggravated robbery has pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of sunglasses.

An 87-year-old World War II veteran is distraught after coming home to find his Featherston house broken into and his television gone.

An intermediate school had to partially compensate parents for a box of students' phones stolen during school hours.

A letter full of contrition sent to Tauranga police has proven that not all criminals are without a conscience.

A Masterton teen who stole thousands of dollars worth of property and cash while working as a waitress at a wedding has been ordered to pay reparations.

Offers of help have been flooding in for the Foster family who had all their firewood stolen while spending what is likely to be their last holiday together.

Teenagers as young as 14 are arming themselves with air pistols to rob dairies and service stations around Christchurch - a trend that worries police.