Breaking The Law In Christchurch; For Reasons Good And Bad

The good:

Pet owners are breaking through cordons to retrieve their animals, the SPCA says.

...The situation for animals has been "deteriorating because of time issues" and is forcing concerned animal owners to break through police cordons to search for their pets.

"That is really one of the common problems of why people break the cordon. It's not to go and do burglaries ... it's to go and retrieve their pets. We will be providing that pretty critical service."

..."We are not expecting a huge number of dogs but I am expecting a large number of cats. They will be strayed from the earthquake or strays whose colonies have been upset."

...Orana Wildlife Park marketing manager Nathan Hawke said there was no damage at the park near Christchurch Airport.

The animals were safe and well, although the primates and giraffes had been distressed by the quake. The park was likely to reopen on Monday.

The bad:

Owen Anthony Jackson, a 23-year-old fisherman and Jed Wilson-Calver, 22, unemployed, yesterday appeared in a makeshift courtroom at the Christchurch police station charged with stealing three $6000 generators powering roadside cabinets for 500 landline and broadband customers.

Shortly before Judge Michael Crosbie denied the men bail and remanded them in custody, he asked: "What would possess someone to do that? These are essential communications and there are people dying out there. That is the context we are in."

Judge Crosbie said that despite the city's dire circumstances there was food, water and shelter for people and no reason to resort to crime.

"Those who burgle, steal, loot or impersonate officials show they are capable of anything."

The men's appearance in court came after it emerged that missing Canterbury Television producer Donna Manning's home was burgled while her children anxiously waited for news of her.

There have also been reports of people impersonating officials such as aid workers and Earthquake Commission (EQC) staff, including one asking to see a resident's possessions so he could return to steal them.

...The two skin-headed men charged with the generator thefts made offensive hand gestures to court staff and media in the makeshift courtroom.