A Dunedin man has been jailed for treating a supermarket as his "own personal business".
Samuel Terrence Cook (32) appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week facing a list of theft charges and one charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Between September 2022 and January 2023, Cook stole $2400 worth of goods from The Warehouse, Torpedo7 and various supermarkets around Dunedin.
The man was confronted by supermarket staff on a number of occasions but was unperturbed — exiting the store with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries.
Early on December 14, Cook entered a student flat and took a set of car keys from a bedroom.
Finding the car in a nearby driveway, he took it — only to return it two days later.
The amount of dishonesty offending alarmed the judge.
"That’s not shoplifting, that’s premeditated burglary. I consider those thefts serious," he said.
Counsel Brendan Stephenson argued the man’s offending was motivated by methamphetamine and gambling addiction along with mental health problems.
Cook presented an apology letter to the court claiming he was motivated to turn over a new leaf now he had gained family support.
"He has a strong resolve to change his ways," Mr Stephenson said.
"He wants to break the cycle."
Judge Phillips commended the man for "learning how to take back control of his life and put things right" but took his apology with a "large grain of salt".
Cook was sentenced to two years and two months’ imprisonment.
He was optimistic about his future, telling the judge he had made plans to return to the North Island.
"You have been dislocated from your whakapapa, like so many people. Your father and you are now planning trips together to go see your whanau. These plans will have to be delayed as you will be otherwise engaged," the judge said.
