Peruvian pair in custody

Police believe a couple who yesterday pleaded guilty to passport and theft charges are part of a South American ring of thieves targeting tourists visiting New Zealand.

In the Auckland District Court, Maria Elena Tello-Espinoza, aged 34, and Victor Pizarro-Romero, 52, both unemployed, pleaded guilty to one charge each of using a document and possession of a false passport.

Tello-Espinoza also pleaded guilty to theft of a bag containing $300.

The pair were remanded in custody.

Tello-Espinoza admitted stealing the bag from the back of a chair at the Sky City Fortuna Buffet Restaurant while the complainant was eating breakfast.

She admitted that her Spanish passport was false and was bought in Thailand for $700 and said that as a Peruvian national she was unable to work freely in New Zealand.

Pizarro-Romero, who, like Tello-Espinoza, entered New Zealand on a Spanish passport, admitted that his passport was false and that he bought it in Thailand for $1000. He is also a Peruvian.

The Herald has reported that a ring of South American thieves had been preying on tourists at hotels and airports in Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown.

The scam involved one person distracting the tourist while another stole luggage, handbags and wallets. Yesterday, Auckland Detective Senior Sergeant Julian Rinckes said he believed Tello-Espinoza and Pizarro-Romero were part of this group.