Homeless pair admit thefts

Two Christchurch men who broke into a vacant earthquake-damaged Rangiora property and used it as a party house while they went on a crime spree are scheduled to be sentenced in the district court on Thursday.

Darius Matthews 22, and Benjamin Shane Tecofsky, 25, have both pleaded guilty to breaking into a the house, three burglaries at empty houses in the Kaiapoi red zone, and 11 counts of shoplifting.

Police said the pair caused a "substantial amount of damage'' to the house, including a door, carpet and vinyl floor coverings and windows.

Matthews and Tecofsky went to the Countdown and New World supermarkets in Rangiora several times and left without paying for energy drinks and large chocolate bars.

After police were alerted to the Rangiora break-in on August 31, the pair moved on to Kaiapoi where they lived rough in local parks.

Police found the pair had entered two vacant buildings in Kirk St and a house in Gray Cres, all three in the earthquake red zone.

They told police they entered the houses because they were homeless and stole food when they had no money.