Cat burglar back behind bars | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A career cat burglar, nabbed creeping through quake-rattled homes, has been jailed for three years.   

Brazen 46-year-old sneak thief Patricia Aldridge has wracked up a remarkable criminal career, with more than 170 convictions for burgling, armed robbery, and even busting out of prison.   

The North Islander has tormented police with her audacious one-woman crimewaves and has spent the last three decades in and out of jail.  

But when she was transferred to Christchurch Women's Prison and given parole earlier this year, her criminal mind adjusted its sights on homeowners already shaken up by the seismic events of February 22.   

Released with a bail condition to reside with a Christchurch-based daughter, Aldridge reverted to her deeply-ingrained ways to launch a night-time assault on 10 residential addresses in St Albans and central city "within the four avenues," between May 14 and May 25, this year.     

She prised open doors and windows with chisels and screwdrivers to gain entry to the damaged homes in Edgeware Rd, Ely St, Otley St, Barbadoes St, and Burke St.    But most of the homes she entered were inhabited by unsuspecting, sleeping homeowners.   

Aldridge still wasn't deterred, and even clambered over comatose victims in their beds to steal handbags, wallets, cellphones, and even shoes.   

She was disturbed by homeowners "on several occasions," say police.   When confronted by one householder, the brass-necked burglar replied: 'What the f*** are you doing?'    

She was eventually tracked down by police and her mugshot was identified by several of the residents. Police searched her daughter's address and recovered "numerous handbags" from her bedroom.   

Now, Aldridge has been jailed for three years and nine months for the burglaries, and possessing instruments for breaking and entering.    Police said a total of $1719.52 worth of stolen property was not recovered.   

However, Judge David Saunders said it was pointless to make a reparation order because she already owed reparation for earlier crimes.   

He sentenced her to prison and added that since she had a high-risk rating would not get parole at her first appearance.   

Crown prosecutor Nicola Robson told the court that Aldridge's night attacks had a psychological effect on her victims.   

She declined to discuss with police the reasons for her crimes.   

Aldridge is no stranger to being behind bars. She has spent most of her life in and out of jail.   

Detective Sergeant Micky Earl helped nab her for the Christchurch crimes. 

  "This woman has an extensive criminal history with 174 convictions going back to the early 1980s.  

"She is originally from the North Island but was sent to Christchurch Women's Prison. That sometimes happens when they get moved down here, for whatever reason, and then get released and suddenly we have a crime wave on our hands."  

Originally from the Palmerston North area, Aldridge has convictions for aggravated robbery and burglary, including a $51,000 smash-and-grab crime spree that involved six burglaries in four hours in the Manawatu region. It is understood that Aldridge has a drug problem.   In February 2005, Aldridge teamed-up with a convicted killer - Melissa Wepa - to escape from Arohata Prison, near Tawa, north of Wellington.   

They managed to evade prison wardens by putting dummies in their beds, unscrew cell fittings after lockdown with a contraband screwdriver and then smash their way through a floor.  

Once outside the jail, the pair used scaffolding left in the prison yard by workmen to climb a 4m perimeter fence topped with razor wire and make good their escape.   But Aldridge was soon tracked down after stealing from people in Waikanae, north of Wellington, to support herself while on the run.  

Senior Sergeant Alasdair Macmillan of Kapiti Police remembers the case.    He told The Star: "Some criminals stick in your mind. My officers didn't need much direction in tracing her - it seems like she can't help herself."