Spate of thefts halts with burglar in custody

Kimbolton Rd residents in Feilding will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after a man who targeted the area, taking lawnmowers and frozen goods among other items, has been caught.

Joseph Mika, 23, pleaded guilty in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday to four charges of burglary, one of theft, one of cultivating cannabis and one of equipment used for taking cannabis.

The unemployed man's spree began on January 11 when he broke into a Kimbolton Rd address.

He took a cordless drill, weedeater and sander from the garage. On his way home he also took a lion figurine.

Six days later he broke into Feilding Intermediate School's caretaker shed at 1am taking a lawnmower, another weed eater, a leaf blower and a jacket. At the end of the month he went to another Kimbolton Rd property, stealing frozen meat, icecream and $100 cash.

The next night he returned to Kimbolton Rd, this time taking a television, another lawnmower, more frozen meat and a dumbbell set.

Six days later it was a Derby St address in Feilding that was targeted, where he pocketed a digital camera, golden ring and took yet another lawnmower.

Mika was wearing the stolen ring and had the camera in his pocket when police tracked him down on March 8 at his home.

They also found a 20-centimetre-high cannabis plant on the property, 16 grams of cannabis and cannabis pipes.

Mika has been remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on May 18.

- © Fairfax NZ News