According to the agreed summary of facts, the first burglary was carried out by Hoeta and her co-offender, Layce Atutolu.
Atutolu was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention for her part in the burglaries last October.
On April 18, 2024, Hoeta, 24, and Atutolu walked into the Ōtara Family and Christian Health Centre in South Auckland.
Their first victim worked at the centre and had left her handbag, containing her wallet and prescription glasses, and a laptop bag in her office.
The pair quietly moved through the centre, and Hoeta picked up the victim’s laptop, while Atutolu took her handbag.
Then, in January of 2025, the pair were shown on CCTV entering the reception area of Pukekohe Family Health Care in South Auckland.
A worker there had left his belongings, including his wallet and keys, in his office while he went out for lunch.
Hoeta and Atutolu went into his office and stole those items.
They were challenged by another staff member about being in the office but claimed they were waiting for their aunt, before leaving the centre.
Two months later, they went into TBI Health Physiotherapy, Sports and Spinal Rehabilitation Clinic in Flat Bush, South Auckland.
While the victim was treating a patient on the other side of the clinic, she left her bag unattended at the reception.
Hoeta and Atutolu sat in the waiting room for a short period and paced around the reception area.
Atutolu pushed an empty pram behind the reception desk, followed by Hoeta, who was holding a baby.
Hoeta stood by at the reception entrance while Atutolu put the victim’s bag in the empty pram and closed its cover.
They were seen on CCTV footage leaving the building.
Then, a month later, the fourth victim was working at the Psychology Group in South Auckland when she left her bag unattended.
The man was sentenced at the Manukau District Court on 33 charges of sexual assault. Photo / NZME
It contained her laptop, and work and personal phones.
Atutolu stole the bag and left in a car with Hoeta.
An hour later, Hoeta was found by police in Karaka, South Auckland, and arrested. She had the victim’s work phone in her pocket.
The ‘impact’ of the burglaries
In court, Judge Tania Sharkey read out the victim impact statement of the TBI Health employee whose bag was stolen.
“I think it’s important that you hear about the impact on [the victims],” the judge said.
The victim’s stolen bag was a gift from her mother, who had died, and the victim had been posting “publicly” trying to find it, the court heard.
She was the caregiver of a high needs, neurodivergent child, and without the items in her bag, she was unable to provide the care and support that were part of their “essential” routine, the statement said.
This included being able to log into apps and contact family.
“She hopes you can see the impact your actions have on people’s lives,” the judge reported.
The victim said it sounded like Hoeta needed help, and she wanted her to receive it.
Hoeta’s lawyer, Ish Jayanandan, said there was a connection between her client’s “rather deprived” upbringing and her criminal behaviour.
A psychological report before the court contained a “harrowing outline” of what Hoeta had endured in her childhood, Jayanandan said.
This trauma had carried through into Hoeta’s adult life, she said.
Because of Hoeta’s background, the prosecution and defence were in agreement that a sentence of home detention was appropriate.
Judge Sharkey said before that background information came to light, imprisonment was “really on the cards” for Hoeta.
“I wouldn’t be criticised for that,” the judge warned.
The judge also said she understood Hoeta’s co-offender was a relative and a “bad influence”.
For three charges of burglary and one of receiving stolen property, Hoeta was sentenced to nine months’ home detention and ordered to pay $200 to the victims.
Ella Scott-Fleming has been a journalist for three years and previously worked at the Otago Daily Times, Gore Ensign and Metro Magazine. She has an interest in court and general reporting. She’s currently based in Auckland covering justice related stories.