Guilty plea on eight burglary charges

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 10

Guilty plea on eight burglary charges

A Bulgarian refugee pleaded guilty to eight charges of burglary and one of possession of a firearm when he appeared in the District Court yesterday. Peter Hristov, aged 22, unemployed, was convicted and remanded in custody by Judge Fraser to appear for sentence on the charges in the High Court today.

Hristov will also be sentenced on a charge of armed robbery of the Heathcote Post Office when he appears in the High Court. He was represented by Mr D. J. Taffs.

The Crown Prosecutor, Mr D. J. C. Saunders, said that a total of $34,069.30 was sought in compensation for unrecovered items and damaged property. A summary of facts, presented to the Court, listed eight burglaries in premises located at Auckland, Christchurch, Rangiora, and Diamond Harbour. Hristov’s fingerprints were found at each burglary scene. He denied being at any of the places when questioned by the police. About $5OOO of jewellery was stolen in a smash and grab raid at Innes Jewellers, Newmarket, Auckland, on December 14, 1982. Another Auckland jewellers shop was broken into between December 24 and 29, 1982. Jewellery valued at $26,173.30 was taken from Keith Russell Jewellers, Ltd, Henderson, after entry was gained through the roof.

Wiltex Plastics, Ltd, of

Christchurch, was broken into between February 26 and 28, 1983, and $46 in cash was taken from a desk drawer. Entry was gained through louvred windows. Household goods, valued at $l9O, were taken from a house at Purau Avenue, Diamond Harbour, between February 1 and March 15, 1983. Hristov’s car was seen in the area at the time and a vacuum cleaner, taken from the house, was later found at his address. He told the police he had bought it from a second-hand dealer. A window, worth $3O, was broken.

Corrugated plastic roofing was removed from Woolston Radio and TV on Ferry Road on May 10-11, 1981 A colour television, a video recorder, and a radio cassette, with a total value of $2692, were taken. These were later found at Hristov’s address. Damage worth about $lOO was done to the roof. A side window at the Heathcote Post Office was smashed on the evening of July 10. The window was valued at $3O. A section of iron roofing was removed from Gibsons Sports and Music Shop in High Street, Rangiora, to gain entry to the shop between July 16 and 18, 1983. Firearms, ammunition and camping equipment was taken but most was later recovered from Hristov’s address. Damage to the roof totalled about $lOO. Gas cutting equipment was used to cut open a

strongroom door at the Rangiora District Council offices on August 8. The attempt was abandoned when papers inside the strongroom caught fire. A milk vendor saw the smoke and notified the Colice. Hristov was stopped y the police in his car near the offices. His clothes smelled of smoke and a broken screwdriver found in the car matched a piece in the offices. He denied being in the offices. Damages to the offices totalled about $2500. The police also found a cut-down .22 calibre rifle in the car. It was fully loaded. Hristov said he did not own the firearm and did not know that it was in the car.

The summary said that Hristov came to New Zealand in 1981 as a refugee from Italy. A job was arranged for him which finished after a year. He had not worked since. Hristov was described as a devious and cunning criminal who had not cooperated with the police.