A 42-year-old woman who stole jewellery from an elderly woman’s unit at a retirement village has been jailed for three years. Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders noted Hinemoa Keen belatedly offered to speak to police about getting the boxes of jewellery back, as she faced sentencing. He said the elderly woman was devastated by the loss of the jewellery, which had sentimental value. Keen committed the opportunist raid on the unit at an Addington retirement village. “It was a gross invasion of her privacy. She was entitled to feel secure in her retirement unit,” said the judge, as he sentenced Keen for two burglaries, four charges of dishonestly using documents – a cheque and bank cards – and two thefts. Keen wept as she stood in the dock. She handed up a letter she wrote, apologising to her victims. Judge Saunders said she had a “shocking” history of similar offending. “Increasing terms of imprisonment will be imposed if you continue to offend in this way,” he told her.
