Prolific burglar Jamie Downard, 47, admitted seven housebreaking fees and one other of acquiring by deception when he appeared within the Hamilton District Court docket at present. Picture / Waikato police
A prolific burglar – who as soon as stole a baby’s piggy financial institution – says he broke into seven properties to assist repay a $13,000 drug debt.
James Keith Downard, often called Jamie, had been wished by police for about two weeks and was arrested after police executed a search warrant in Te Rapa, Hamilton, yesterday.
The 47-year-old admitted seven fees of housebreaking, certainly one of acquiring by deception, and two of breaching jail launch circumstances.
Corrections are searching for a jail recall warrant.
Downard broke into properties throughout Hamilton between April 26 and Might 21.
He gained entry into two Hamilton East flats by a neighbouring building web site and bought in by a rear ranchslider, stealing gadgets together with jewelry and alcohol.
The next morning, he went to a Frankton dwelling and jemmied open a bed room window to look by the home earlier than fleeing with jewelry, watches and expertise gadgets.
On April 28, at 2.57pm, he signed a doc at Money Convertors stating a gold ring he’d stolen was his. He offered it for $2000 and it was stolen on April 27.
On Might 5, he broke right into a St Andrews dwelling which had safety cameras that caught him climbing by a bed room window. He stole jewelry, a watch, and a drone in a tough carry case – which he offered to an affiliate.
5 days later he entered the yard of an Ulster St property.
The home-owner was alerted to his presence by his safety system and Downard was noticed strolling alongside the rear of the property holding a chunk of paper and a cell phone.
He then tipped out a glass recycling bin and put it below a kitchen window which he opened about 1cm.
Nothing was taken, however he then broke right into a neighbouring home and stole extra jewelry and different useful gadgets, nonetheless, he dropped his cellphone within the yard.
And between 11am and three.25pm, he broke right into a River Rd property by a laundry window. Though the safety system was on, he crawled round to keep away from detection earlier than looking the home for useful gadgets.
He left with jewelry and overseas forex.
He went to Lotus International Change the place he transformed Australian and US {dollars} to obtain $813.10.
When spoken to by police Downard admitted his crimes stating he owed $13,000 in relation to a drug debt, and broke into the properties to assist pay that debt.
Downard has a prolific housebreaking and dishonesty historical past along with his offending stretching over to Napier, all through the Waikato, and right down to Taupō, for which he was sentenced to 6 years and eight months in jail. He had even stolen a baby’s piggy financial institution, Stuff reported.
He was granted parole to Te Awamutu earlier this yr earlier than finishing up his newest offending.
Victims of Downard’s newest offending, final month shared his picture on social media within the hopes of serving to to trace him down.
He was this afternoon convicted on all fees by Choose Kevin Glubb and remanded in custody to reappear for sentencing in August.
Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter primarily based in Waikato. She has labored at NZME for 9 years and has been a journalist for 20.
