An unemployed man has been charged with stealing a 300-year-old ship's bell used to call parishioners to worship.

The country's top rugby team has come to the rescue after a Special Olympian's prized All Blacks shirt was stolen while he was training.

A man accused of being part of an international robbery group which netted $770,000 worth of jewellery last month has appeared in court.

A burglar broke into homes by reaching through the cat-flap and unlocking doors, a court was told today.