CCTV shows unruly travelling family taking Christmas tree from Auckland Caltex

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

An unruly family travelling New Zealand has been causing mayhem for more than a month, and not even the Christmas trees were safe.

Video from CCTV cameras at Caltex in Albany showed four members of the family, believed to be from Liverpool in England, entered the north Auckland service station on December 7.

Two adult women appeared to rummage around the shop and hide items in their clothing.

Meanwhile, two children were seen positioning a Christmas tree near the front door before walking out with it.

Two children from the travelling family help themselves to the Christmas tree at Caltex Albany.

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'It was shocking,' Ankur Patel, the service station's manager, said.

'I could not believe they would just walk out with a Christmas tree, especially children.'

Patel looked back over the video after realising the tree was missing and discovered the brazen theft.

Caltex staff were shocked at how confident the group was while taking items from shelves.

Staff printed out photos of the group and displayed them on the counter, but it didn't stop the group returning.

On New Year's Eve, the family was back, but this time they used a car and Patel was able to put the licence plate in the station's alerting system.

When they returned for a third time on January 3, the system detected the car was back.

Dipesh Patel confronted a woman from the group but she refused to accept it was her on CCTV.

Site manager Dipesh Patel confronted a woman from the group and showed her the photo of her stealing, but she claimed it wasn't her and left.

About 20 minutes later, a man from the group entered the service station claiming one of the women who had stolen items was his wife and she had been a 'bit crazy', Dipesh Patel said.

He paid for a few stolen items, but denied knowing anyone else from the group and refused to pay any outstanding bill.

The group visited the Caltex four times.

Caltex contacted the police, and did not see the group again.

On Tuesday, police caught up with the group in Hamilton and arrested Tina Maria Cash, 26, for the theft of sunglasses, wire rope and a four-pack of Red Bull energy drinks from the Caltex.

Police finally caught up with the group at a Burger King in Hamilton.

She pleaded guilty on Wednesday and was ordered to pay $55.20.

Dipesh Patel said the group was 'just so confident and did not hesitate when taking things.

'They acted like they were allowed to do it,' he said.

It's not the only brush with the law the family have had while they're in New Zealand.

On Tuesday the family caused problems at Burger King in Hamilton, and they were were later stopped by police when officers found that two young children in their car were not in appropriate car seats.

'In lieu of an infringement notice one of the adult passengers was taken to the local Warehouse where they purchased two seats. It's all about the safety of the children. And they were warned about the unrestrained children,' Senior Sergeant Gill Meadows said on Tuesday.

The family didn't get a fine on top of purchasing the seats.

The family first came to the attention of the New Zealand public last week after allegedly leaving beer boxes, bottles and baby wipes at Takapuna Beach. It was then alleged they had dined and dashed at an Indian restaurant and bar in Northcote.

Immigration New Zealand said Deportation Liability Notices (DLN) were served on individuals involved in the incident at the Burger King restaurant.

'Section 157(5) of the Immigration Act 2009 provides for temporary visa holders to be issued with a DLN on a number of grounds, including matters relating to character,' Peter Devoy, Assistant General Manager INZ said in a statement.

'Immigration officers advised the individuals of their appeal rights and provided the relevant documentation for them to appeal if they choose to do so.'

Those issued with the DLN notice have 28 days to appeal the notice. They are also allowed to leave of their own choice before the notice period.

Speaking to reporters outside the Burger King, one family member said they would be going home on Wednesday.