A Dunedin teen has been shown leniency after burgling a Castle St flat and being caught in the act by one of the residents.
Matariki Ephepara Rameka Calvert, 18, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on a charge of burglary that occurred on August 28, 2022.
At 1.15am, the defendant and four associates noticed a damaged front door in Castle St.
Three entered the flat with torches and began rifling through drawers and cupboards.
The victim arrived and suspected she was being burgled as she saw the torches moving about her home through a window.
Deciding to investigate, she entered her front gate where the lookout attempted to waylay her by offering up some alcohol.
Declining the offer, she headed inside — catching the burglars in action.
As the trio ran from the property, one of them shoulder barged the victim, causing her to collide with a wall.
The victim struck her head but was not injured.
"Students are always vulnerable to this kind of burglary," Judge David Robinson said.
"Sometimes we have to impose really stiff penalties on people for deterrence, but I’m not going to do that today and that is due to your age."
Two of Calvert’s co-offenders were under 18 and were dealt with by the Youth Court.
The judge believed the defendant was associating with the wrong people.
Calvert was sentenced to four months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision and 75 hours’ community work — he was also ordered not to associate with any of his co-offenders.
"This needs to be a lesson today.
"Firstly, to respect other people’s property and secondly, don’t be overly influenced by the people around you.
"You need to be the voice of reason," Judge Robinson said.
"I can be pretty relaxed that you won’t end up back here."
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