Homeowner confronted by burglars, one holding knife and hammer

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

A couple who broke into and ransacked a house near Timaru have received jail and home detention sentences.

Connor Austin Leslie Mason, 31, and Jasmine Elise Tobin, 27, both pleaded guilty to entering the property at Salisbury, south of Timaru, with intent to commit an imprisonable offence, while Mason also admitted possessing an offensive weapon.

Mason was jailed for 18 months earlier this year while Tobin was sentenced to eight months’ home detention in the Timaru District Court on Thursday.

The police summary of facts for the duo said the victim discovered the curtains drawn and lights on in all the bedrooms of his house when he arrived home about 9.30pm on March 1, 2025.

“The doors to the property were locked, so the victim gained entry to the house through the automatic garage,” the summary said.

“The victim discovered Mason in a combative stance, armed with a knife and hammer at the end of the hallway, with Tobin standing next to him.

“Cupboards and drawers were left wide open, while various items were scattered and placed throughout the house, including weapons.”

A search of the address located a Molotov cocktail, a crude hand-thrown flammable weapon constructed out of a wine bottle, filled with petrol and a rag secured with the lid. This had been made by the defendants and left in the kitchen.

Tobin and Mason were arrested when police arrived.

Tobin told police they needed the Molotov cocktail to protect themselves.

The Crown submitted home detention was appropriate. Judge Campbell Savage said the starting point for Tobin, who had accepted an earlier sentencing indication, was 20 months’ jail.

“I note that your co-offender is in prison. You are not going to end up in prison,” Judge Savage said.

Judge Savage allowed a 20% discount for guilty pleas, reducing the sentence to 16 months’ jail.

“That gives me the option of converting it to an electronically-monitored sentence.”

Judge Savage, who converted the jail term to an eight-month home detention sentence, then offered to remit Tobin’s fines of $3750 for an extra month of home detention, but the defendant declined, saying she would make her own arrangements.