Carmen was involved in some of those, racking up a total of 13 shoplifting charges, while Courtney had 18. Taken out to steal from the age of 10Carmen's lawyer Kevin Lamb told the court about the twins' upbringing. Courtney's lawyer Elizabeth Gresson said shoplifting was a learned behaviour for the twins and it was their family's "modus operandi". An organised family operationThe judge said the twins' crimes caused "significant loss" to Woolworths and had a trickle-down effect impacting the wider community. The judge thanked the twins' whānau for filling the court's public gallery in support.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 28, 2026 01:18 UTC