from stuff.co.nz
Burglars who cleaned out thousands of dollars of greenstone from a Waikanae gallery could have brought themselves trouble.
Waikanae’s Artel gallery owner Maude Heath said two large cabinets of high quality artisan pounamu items were taken in a smash and grab break-in early this morning.
Other art works, and a cabinet of silver jewellery nearby were untouched.
While the artists were disappointed, there had been some discussion about the traditional belief that stealing greenstone was thought to bring bad luck to the thief, or even a mataku, or curse, she said.
At some stage the WCB members may heed our call to put security cameras in Mahara Place…
A comment on the stuff page we like:-
“Whether you believe in karma or not, bad things generally happen to bad people. It might not be divine intervention, but they are bound to put a foot wrong, or rip off the wrong person. No good comes from stealing.”
Update
Police arrested a 27-year-old Kapiti man on 17 March in connection with this burglary although only 2 of the 101 items stolen were recovered. The man “faced charges of burglary, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.”