The 56-year-old came unstuck only when a couple of eagle-eyed constables spotted him in January, riding his bike in South Dunedin.
The Dunedin District Court yesterday heard how the officers activated their lights and sirens as the elusive Pene pedalled for freedom, flashing them a middle-fingered gesture as he went.
He cycled across Kensington Oval, scaled a fence and crossed the motorway to evade their clutches but the respite was short-lived.
Pene was arrested at his home a couple of weeks later, bringing to an end a string of crimes that started in December 2022.
The Wellington man had come to Dunedin to attend a residential rehabilitation programme, counsel Kelly Beazley told the court.
He found work but when that abruptly ended he "just hit rock bottom and went back to what he knows".
The court heard Pene had 25 previous burglaries on his rap sheet, stretching back to 2001.
During his Dunedin spree, he donned dark clothing, a hood and mask to conceal his identity and gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints at the scene.
He first hit a convenience store in Princes St, forcing his way in with a crowbar — a recurring feature of the burglaries — and making off with $1860 in cash.
In consecutive months he targeted a bike shop and a chemist, leaving empty cash registers and few clues for police.
The break-ins became more sporadic, the final burglary coming in December last year when Pene was captured on CCTV riding his bike to a pizza shop in North Dunedin and barging his way in through the back door.
The getaway vehicle ultimately became the vital piece of the puzzle for police but unbeknown to them, they had collared their man before the low-speed chase.
In October, Pene berated some people who had been attending a pro-Palestine rally.
As they left in their car, he gave chase, kicking a passenger door, punching a window and trying to rip a Palestinian flag off the vehicle.
He was spoken to by police in December in relation to that incident and a few days later found himself in trouble again when officers searched a vehicle in which he was a passenger.
Pene repeatedly hindered them and was arrested for obstruction and possessing a methamphetamine pipe — but it was another month before they realised he was responsible for the burglaries.
Judge Mark Callaghan gave the defendant credit for attending meetings with the bike shop owner and the rally attendant, apologising for his crimes.
Ms Beazley said her client had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and wanted help.
"He’s very shameful," she said.
Judge Callaghan jailed Pene for 21 months, meaning, given the time he has spent behind bars, he will likely be released before Christmas.
He was ordered to repay more than $6000 to the burglary victims.
