Help sought in finding Santa sack thief

Police

CCTV: A photo from security footage released by police seeking a man alleged to have taken two girls' Santa sacks.

Relevant offers

Crime

Suppression lapses for kidnap accused Cyclist shot, retaliates with rock New Zealand's 'biggest' P-lab busted Farm worker burst cow's eyeball with bar Gisborne stab victim named Illness delays Urewera trial Police bust nets 'substantial' cash, meth Urewera four trial: 'Gunfire' from camp Woman charged over Gisborne death Earthquake stress blamed for murder

The police are calling for public help to identify a man wanted in connection with the theft of two sisters' Santa sacks.

The girls, aged four and six, were staying with their parents at the Meadow Park Holiday Camp in Papanui, Christchurch, when they were woken at 3am on Christmas Day after burglars took off with their recently filled Santa sacks. The family car was also taken.

Police said they stopped a man nearby in a vehicle and recovered the younger girl's presents. They also made arrangements for another batch of freshly wrapped presents for the six-year-old.

Today they released a picture of a man they believed to be involved in the incident and asked that anyone with information about him, or the whereabouts of the family's silver Mazda Familia car, contact them.

Another man, Rory Khan Conley, 26, appeared in Christchurch District Court this week charged with burglary and possession of two cannabis pipes.

- NZPA