{"id":304817,"date":"2026-02-27T12:11:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/304817\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:11:12","slug":"three-of-a-group-of-burglars-who-caused-utter-mayhem-across-waikato-sent-to-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/304817\/","title":{"rendered":"Three of a group of burglars who caused \u2018utter mayhem\u2019 across Waikato sent to prison"},"content":{"rendered":"

First published on \"NZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ten<\/p>\n

\nTen offenders, aged between 15 and 19, stormed six businesses, including the Caltex Hillcrest on 19 January 2025.
\nPhoto: Google Maps\n<\/p>\n

A group of 10 teen burglars stole a car, then set off on a spree of “utter mayhem” around the Waikato, smashing their way into six businesses.<\/p>\n

One carload, containing five, was chased down by the police and caught. The other five escaped in a separate vehicle.<\/p>\n

This week, three of the caught offenders – Hunter Vader Kingi, now 20; Peter Nusipepa, now 20; and Dillinjah Hohepa-Strickland, now 19 – appeared in the Hamilton District Court before Judge Noel Cocurullo.<\/p>\n

Kingi and Nusipepa had earlier admitted aggravated burglary, five burglaries, and motor vehicle conversion.<\/p>\n

Hohepa-Strickland faced the same charges except for one, which involved the burglary of Hillcrest Mobil.<\/p>\n

Judge Cocurullo said the group “caused utter mayhem” during the early hours of 19 January last year, targeting supermarkets and petrol stations.<\/p>\n

Kicked, forced, smashed their way inside<\/p>\n

That “mayhem” began earlier in the evening in Hamilton East, when a vehicle was stolen, and used by Kingi and others.<\/p>\n

The group drove to the Save-A-Lot supermarket in Te Kauwhata, in two stolen cars.<\/p>\n

Three offenders kicked, forced, and squeezed their way through the sliding doors at 1:10am, while Nusipepa smashed the glass door with a tyre iron.<\/p>\n

They stole cigarettes and vaping products before driving to the nearby New World.<\/p>\n

There, the front door was smashed off its rails.<\/p>\n

They ran to the staff-only area and rummaged through the checkouts before leaving with unknown property.<\/p>\n

By 2:57am, they were in Hamilton, outside Thirsty Liquor Hillcrest.<\/p>\n

The group used various tools to try to get in, smashing the glass doors, but ultimately failed as the security grille blocked them.<\/p>\n

The store alarms went off, and the fog cannon was activated, which sent the offenders fleeing to New World Hillcrest, on Cambridge Road.<\/p>\n

One of the group forced open the front door, allowing some to enter, while others smashed a glass pane and gained entry that way.<\/p>\n

Again, they headed to the staff-only area before fleeing. It was unclear what was stolen.<\/p>\n

Four minutes later, at 3:05am, they drove across the road to Mobil Hillcrest.<\/p>\n

Kingi and his co-offenders used various tools, as well as kicking, to smash the glass windows and pry the doors open.<\/p>\n

However, the fog cannon was activated, and the group ran from the store.<\/p>\n

Lastly, the group went to Caltex Hillcrest, which, at 3:09am, was open with only one attendant.<\/p>\n

All 10 offenders got out of their cars, wearing disguises, and ran through the front doors, while Nusipepa stood at the front door holding a screwdriver.<\/p>\n

The store attendant feared for his safety, ran to a back room and activated the fog cannon.<\/p>\n

Kingi and another offender jumped over the counter and stole cigarettes, while the others stole other items.<\/p>\n

After loading the car, they took off at speed on to Cambridge Road, while a responding police unit spotted the stolen Nissan Juke and pulled in behind.<\/p>\n

The driver accelerated away, reaching speeds of 75km\/h in a 50km\/h zone.<\/p>\n

But the car lost a wheel and stopped at the University of Waikato.<\/p>\n

The occupants fled, but were caught shortly after by a police dog and handler, and other officers.<\/p>\n

All up, about $20,000 in damage was caused to the businesses.<\/p>\n

\"Hamilton<\/p>\n

\nHunter Vader Kingi, Peter Nusipepa, and Dillinjah Hohepa-Strickland appeared at the Hamilton District Court after a string of burglaries and mayhem, committed early in 2025.
\nPhoto: RNZ\n<\/p>\n

‘It’s significant offending’<\/p>\n

In court, Mark Fyers, counsel for Kingi, said beyond the number of participants, the offending was at the lower end of the scale, “although there was some damage done and items [taken]”.<\/p>\n

He suggested an overall starting point of five years’ jail, adding that it was a significant amount of prison time for such a young man with no criminal history.<\/p>\n

“It’s significant offending,” the judge replied.<\/p>\n

Fyers accepted that, and along with a 20 percent sentencing reduction for Kingi’s plea, suggested a further 20 percent reduction for his youth, but noted Kingi would not be in a position to pay reparation.<\/p>\n

Judge Cocurullo was not impressed, but said he did not feel great about having to send a young person to prison.<\/p>\n

“He’s the last person I want to jail,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It’s such a sad day … if they think they can go out and cause utter mayhem, and I can press a reset button, and it’s all better, and come in say ‘I’m remorseful’.”<\/p>\n

Fyers agreed it was serious, but pushed for an end sentence of home detention.<\/p>\n

Judge Cocurullo disagreed, and instead took an overall starting point of six and a half years’ imprisonment, with 45 percent in discounts, jailing Kingi for 36 months, which also included a six month discount for time on electronically-monitored bail.<\/p>\n

‘Classic spree of burglaries’<\/p>\n

Glen Prentice, on behalf of Nusipepa, said the Caltex worker saw what was happening and “took the sensible evasive action that he should have”.<\/p>\n

He labelled the offending as a “classic spree of burglaries … by five young people, which has changed their lives forever”.<\/p>\n

“This really does appear to be young people not thinking about consequences … just doing something crazy.”<\/p>\n

Nusipepa was remorseful, had shown insight, and apart from Christmas Day, had spent a year on electronically monitored bail without issue.<\/p>\n

Prentice also pushed for home detention, but Judge Cocurullo said the offending was too serious<\/p>\n

He jailed Nusipepa for two years and 10 months.<\/p>\n

Unsuccessful attempt at 70 percent credit<\/p>\n

Counsel Nadine Baier said that although Hohepa-Strickland was on straight bail for the past 12 months, he had been working full-time on a rubbish truck to continue supporting his family.<\/p>\n

He had also participated in one fewer burglary, had no previous convictions, and was remorseful.<\/p>\n

“He’s a young man, he works five to six days on rubbish trucks and has been working since he was 15 to help support his family.<\/p>\n

“His pay goes towards rent, and he helps his mum and other siblings.”<\/p>\n

She pushed for discounts totalling 70 percent, much to the astonishment of Judge Cocurullo.<\/p>\n

“Seventy percent?” he asked.<\/p>\n

“How could it ever be 70 percent? I’m just struggling to understand that.”<\/p>\n

Baier said when she separated out all the various discounts, that’s what it equalled.<\/p>\n

“These are the discounts that the law allows for,” she said.<\/p>\n

Judge Cocurullo acceded to 50 percent credit and jailed Hohepa-Strickland for two years and nine months.<\/p>\n

One of the other co-accused is being dealt with in the Youth Court, while the other remains before the adult court.<\/p>\n

*This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/p>\n

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