Key Takeaways
- Creedence Haden Brell, 41, and his partner conducted a series of shoplifting attempts across multiple Waikato retailers between June 2024 and January 2025.
- The total value of goods they tried to steal exceeded $5,000, with individual incidents ranging from $106 to $714.
- Brell was already serving a sentence and on bail for other offences when many of the thefts occurred, which the judge deemed an aggravating factor.
- After applying sentencing discounts, the judge imposed 13 months’ imprisonment, subsequently converted to six months and 14 days of home detention at a Rotorua residence.
- Brell was ordered to pay reparations totalling $441.08 to Woolworths, Pak’nSave and Chemist Warehouse.
- His partner had already received a home‑detention sentence for her involvement in the earlier offences.
- The case highlights how repeat offending, combined with existing legal obligations, can lead to a custodial‑type outcome even when home detention is granted.
Background of the Offenders
Creedence Haden Brell, a 41‑year‑old resident of the Waikato region, partnered with an unnamed accomplice in a pattern of retail theft that spanned several months. Both individuals had prior criminal histories; Brell himself had been convicted of theft and burglary in 2022 and was already serving a sentence for unrelated offences when many of the shoplifting incidents took place. His partner had previously been sentenced to home detention for her role in the early‑stage thefts, leaving Brell to face the court alone for the later charges. Their method typically involved filling reusable chiller bags or trolleys with goods, paying for only a token item, and then exiting the store without settling the full bill.
June 5 Woolworths Te Rapa Incident
The offending began just after 9 p.m. on June 5, 2024, at Woolworths Te Rapa. Brell and his partner entered the store carrying reusable chiller bags. They walked through the aisles, placing groceries worth $106.17 into the bags. Brell proceeded straight to the checkout without paying for any of the items, while his partner paused, paid for a couple of minor purchases, then left. She returned a few minutes later, selected two energy drinks, paid for only one, and departed with the unpaid drink. Store staff intercepted the pair after noticing the unpaid goods, but they left empty‑handed following a brief confrontation.
October 7 Pak’nSave Tauriko Theft
By October 7, the duo escalated their efforts, targeting Pak’nSave in Tauriko. This time they stole meat and assorted groceries valued at $713. The pair again used their reusable bags to conceal the items, moving through the store with the intent to exit without payment. Surveillance footage captured them loading the bags, and store personnel attempted to intervene as they approached the checkout. Despite the staff’s efforts, the couple managed to leave the premises with the stolen goods, marking one of the higher‑value hauls in their spree.
October 14 Fresh Choice Leamington Theft
A week later, on October 14, Brell and his partner visited Fresh Choice in Leamington. Each grabbed a shopping bag and filled it with groceries amounting to $525. As they proceeded to the checkout, they each additionally selected a drink, paid only for the beverage, and then attempted to leave with the unpaid groceries still in their bags. Store staff noticed the discrepancy and confronted them, but the pair departed before any goods could be recovered, leaving the store with a substantial loss.
November New World Te Rapa Attempt
In November, Brell acted alone at New World Te Rapa. He filled a reusable bag with groceries, selected a bottle of water, paid for that single item, and headed toward the exit. However, store employees became suspicious of his behaviour, stopped him before he could leave, and retrieved all of the unpaid groceries. Although the attempted theft was thwarted, the incident added to the mounting evidence of Brell’s persistent shoplifting behaviour.
November 28 Chemist Warehouse Bethlehem
On November 28, the couple struck at Chemist Warehouse in Bethlehem. Brell’s partner carried a bag into which they placed $674.95 worth of health‑and‑beauty products, including supplements and personal‑care items. They exited the store without paying for any of the goods. The theft was detected shortly after via inventory checks, prompting staff to review CCTV footage, which clearly showed the pair loading the bag and leaving the premises.
November 29 Bunnings Store Incident
The following day, November 29, the pair targeted the Bunnings warehouse. They loaded a trolley with multiple items, notably a spa unit, and attempted to leave the store. As they approached the exit, the trolley became lodged on a speed bump, drawing attention from staff. Employees approached, requested a receipt, and Brell responded by asking for a quote instead. The couple then abandoned the trolley and fled the scene, leaving the spa and other merchandise behind.
December Fresh Choice Leamington Attempt
In December, Brell and his partner returned to Fresh Choice Leamington for another attempt. They sought to steal groceries valued at $470.59, again using their reusable bags to conceal the items. As they neared the checkout, store staff intercepted them, recovered the goods, and prevented the theft. This incident demonstrated the couple’s persistence despite repeated interventions by retail employees.
January 26 Woolworths Chartwell Incident
On January 26, 2025, the couple reappeared at Woolworths Chartwell. They entered with reusable shopping bags, selected multiple packets of meat, and walked around the store pretending to shop. At the checkout, they briefly spoke with staff; Brell then placed his bag of meat at the back of a shelf, while his partner, noticing staff staring at her, dropped her bag and exited the store, shouting abuse as she left. The total value of the goods they attempted to take was approximately $405. Staff were able to recover the meat after the pair departed.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Brell appeared in Hamilton District Court facing multiple charges related to the aforementioned thefts and attempted thefts. Judge Tony Couch highlighted two aggravating factors: Brell was already serving a sentence for unrelated offences during some of the shoplifting incidents, and he was on bail for other matters at the time of additional offending. Considering the total value of the stolen goods exceeded $5,000, the judge began with a starting point of 13 months’ imprisonment. After applying discounts for guilty pleas, personal circumstances, and the prospect of rehabilitation, the sentence was reduced to six months and 14 days of home detention, to be served at a property in Rotorua.
Reparation and Additional Orders
In addition to the home‑detention term, Judge Couch ordered Brell to pay reparations to the victims of his crimes. The total amount amounted to $441.08, divided among Woolworths, Pak’nSave, and Chemist Warehouse to compensate for the goods that were actually taken or damaged. The court also noted that Brell’s partner had already received a home‑detention sentence for her involvement in the earlier offences, reflecting a coordinated judicial response to the pair’s criminal conduct.
Background on Reporter Belinda Feek
The article was authored by Belinda Feek, an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato who has worked for NZME for 11 years and has accumulated 22 years of experience in journalism. Feek’s coverage focuses on court proceedings and criminal justice matters, providing the public with clear, factual accounts of cases such as Brell’s. Her reporting ensures that details of offending, sentencing, and reparations are communicated accurately and accessibly to the community.