Family outings for a Taupo couple were spent breaking into houses where nobody was home.
Over a 12-day period in May, Jessica Girvan, 19, and her de facto partner travelled to the Western Bay of Plenty on a burglary binge, taking their three-month-old baby along for the ride, Tauranga District Court was told today.
Girvan, a first time offender, had her infant daughter with her when she pleaded guilty to 10 charges.
Defence lawyer Peter Attwood said Girvan's partner, with whom she was charged jointly, was in custody and facing additional counts in Taupo.
Prosecutor Sergeant Roy Blomkamp said Girvan admitted the unemployed pair were short of money and embarked on their Western Bay crime spree together "because they were a family".
They took turns to drive their car and pick likely houses to burgle.
Girvan would knock on the door and if there was no response she would wait in the car acting as lookout. Her partner would jemmy open doors and search for property to steal. Most of the ill-gotten goods were sold.
Among the money they found was $8000, plus about $1000 in Samoan currency which Girvan later exchanged for New Zealand dollars.
Firearms, ammunition, jewellery, television sets and a laptop computer were also stolen.
An alarm was triggered when one house was broken into - the couple fleeing without taking anything.
Judge Ian Thomas remanded Girvan on bail until August 15 for pre-sentence and reparation reports.
