Two former fire systems contractors have been jailed for stripping buildings of potentially life-saving firefighting equipment.

When Duane Hapimana invited David Carroll into his home, he had no idea how much it would cost him.

Five Star group founder Neill Williams has been jailed for 3 years seven months for misleading investors.

When Five Star finance company boss Neill Williams is sentenced in court today, it will be just the latest stage in a series of misadventures, reports Hamish Fletcher.

A North Dunedin dairy was robbed by two knife-wielding offenders early this morning.

A "prolific" 12-year-old burglar is terrorising a Napier suburb, say police.

A "bold and outrageous" cattle rustling case has divided a rural community north of Auckland.

A former Tauranga businessman who siphoned $317,000 from a motorbike dealership was motivated by "greed, greed and more greed'', a judge has said.

A spate of quad bike thefts in Waikato has come earlier than expected this year.

Burglars have stolen a valuable computer and software from a Featherston man struck down with motor neuron disease.

An art gallery owner who had a quilt stolen by an elderly English tourist says he can't believe she has left the country without being charged - or saying sorry.

A good Samaritan was punched in the face and had his car stolen after assisting a man to escape a gang fight in Dunedin, police say.

The 75-year-old English woman who stole a quilt which was on display at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown told police she put it in a rubbish bin after taking it.

Stealing number plates in West Auckland will be much harder for thieves as police work their way around carparks fitting vehicles with security screws.

A manager of one of Auckland's top hotels has appeared in court accused of stealing more than $118,000 from the hotel's management company.

The burglary of the Karoro Learning Centre by two imports from Christchurch was an "inside job," the Greymouth District Court has heard.

Police have arrested a suspected burglar - after a service station owner went public and complained to The Star that he had to do his own detective work.

A Facebook page set up to name and shame Rotorua shoplifters with personal photos has been set up and taken down - but not without hundreds seeing it first.

A pair of British tourists who lost up to $16,000 worth of their possessions when their van was stolen in Taupo have been overwhelmed by local generosity.