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Thief gets billboard campaign

A New Zealand thief who stole thousands of dollars worth of electrical gear may want to go into hiding after his picture appeared on billboards around Auckland.

The man’s photo has been used by an advertising company which owns the billboards and the transformers he stole.

Last month the thief took 15 transformers belonging to advertising firm OTW. Businessman Mark Venter says they are worth $5000, and is furious with the theft. He says his advertising company has responded by doing what it does best.

“It was too good an opportunity to ignore,” said Mr Venter. “We felt obligated to say ‘right, can we match this guy’s face to a name?’”

“I think it’s like anything,” said police sergeant Roy Thompson. “If police and the community work together…it’ll be a safer place to live. This gentleman’s taken it out of his own initiative.”

Mr Venter says his company is not worried about legal action: “I think you kind of waive your privacy rights when you steal things.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .