Two youths admit burglaries

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 4

Two youths admit burglaries

Two unemployed youths who admitted committing a series of burglaries in which property to a total value of $24,000 was taken, were each remanded in custody when they appeared before Judge Frampton in the District Court yesterday. Gerard Tipene, aged 19, pleaded guilty to committing 25 burglaries and Robert Graham Morunga, aged 17, admitted 19 burglaries.

Tipene was convicted and remanded to the High Court for sentence. Morunga was convicted and remanded to September 29 with, said the judge, the reservation that he might also be sent to the High Court for sentence. Counsel, (Mr G. H. Nation) represented both defendants. Sergeant W. J. McCormick said both defendants were caught in Dunedin. They had travelled there in a converted car after learning that police had found $BOOO worth of stolen property at

their address. He said the offences had been committed between Christchurch and Dunedin during the last six months. Most of the burglaries had taken place at night, with some committed by each defendant acting independently, and others carried out jointly. Property taken included cash, jewellery, 1 electrical goods, food, liquor and clothing. Some of the property had been sold to second-hand dealers and some had been given to friends. Both men admitted converting a number of cars, some of which had been used to transport stolen property. Tipene, in explanation to the police, said he had committed the burglaries because dole money was < not sufficient for the lifestyle he chose to lead, said Sergeant McCormick.