A woman who allegedly went on a spending spree using stolen bank cards will face court this month.
Counties Manukau South Area Commander, Inspector Joe Hunter, says the cards were stolen from vehicles in Patumahoe earlier this month.
"The alleged offender has helped herself to bank cards from wallets left inside a number of unlocked vehicles, and she used them almost immediately to purchase goods using payWave.
"The reality is that we have people in our communities who are looking for any opportunity to exploit others, and leaving vehicles unlocked makes it too easy for them."
Inspector Hunter says that quick reporting of these crimes to Police, along with other useful pieces of banking information helped bring about an arrest.
"Victims not only reported the initial offence, but also banking information with details about the alleged fraudulent transactions," he says.
"Yesterday, our investigations team conducted a search warrant of an address in Waiuku and found numerous items of interest. We took a 48-year-old woman at the property into custody without incident."
She is scheduled to appear in the Pukekohe District Court on 10 April and faces 10 charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage.
"Don't give thieves the opportunity to steal. Never leave your wallet or valuables inside your car, and always lock it, even if you're leaving it for just a short time."
