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Otago Daily Times
19-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
ATM heist: Father, daughter say cash gone
A father and daughter who looted almost $200,000 from an ATM claim $159,000 of the cash, which police are still searching for, has been spent. Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford and James Lindsay Ranford have said they used the stolen funds on drug debts, rent, vehicles and tangihanga (funeral expenses). Last year's heist was carried out by Daniela-Ranford, a former Armourguard employee, who enlisted the help of Ranford, her now terminally-ill father, to act as her getaway driver. Police have only been able to reclaim about $34,000 of the stolen money. The pair were due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court last month and, despite questioning, both denied knowing where the money was. At their sentence indication hearing earlier this year, a police prosecutor believed it may be buried somewhere on Coromandel Peninsula. Judge Glen Marshall adjourned the case to give them time to recall where the money was, suggesting that if they could it would keep them out of prison. This week, they returned to court on their burglary charges and, through affidavits, said they'd spent the money on debts, rent, vehicles and tangihanga. The heist On May 31 last year at 4.16pm, Ranford, 60, and his daughter parked outside Yukedas Party and Gift Store in Hillcrest. The pair had slightly altered the registration plates of their Nissan Tiida by changing one of the numbers. Dressed in all black, 26-year-old Daniela-Ranford, of Te Awamutu, got out of the car with her hood up. She walked into the store and went straight to an ATM. Daniela-Ranford entered two codes, which she had learned during her time with Armourguard, and removed five cash canisters containing $50 and $20 notes, court documents stated. She then got into the back seat of the car and Ranford took off "at high speed", heading east along Clyde St. A short time later, the Nissan was set alight on Holland Rd, Eureka, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The pair was later captured on CCTV at Z petrol station in Hautapu in a Mitsubishi Outlander, registered in Daniela-Radford's name. 'Desperation and irrational thinking' At their sentencing, a police prosecutor said the burglary had caused significant harm to the community. "I do find it quite hard to believe that the money has just evaporated on various debts and things and it would be the police submission that a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate," she said. But Daniela-Ranford's counsel, Jaiden Manera, pushed for 60% in discounts so the end sentence would fall within a range where home detention could be considered. He submitted that his client was the sole caregiver of her two children and if she was sent to prison it was "unclear what the childcare arrangements would be". She also had a clean criminal history, was subjected to childhood deprivation, qualified for a youth discount and was genuinely remorseful. "It is clear that this offending is out of character for Daniela-Ranford and, of course, it has all the hallmarks of desperation and perhaps irrational thinking," he said. "This offending has had a tremendous impact on her personal life ... and has been a real wake-up call for her." She would also agree to pay a maximum of $40,000 in reparation, he said. 'It's been spent' Defence counsel Shelley Gilbert said Ranford, who lives in Hamilton, has terminal stage 4 bladder cancer, but no one was able to give a timeframe as to when he would go into hospice care and he remained on medication. Although a pre-sentence report recommended the pair should be jailed, Gilbert said a clinical psychologist's report stated that prison would be "inappropriate" for Ranford, given his condition. "Ranford would be a model home detention detainee and hoped to spend his remaining time with his grandchildren and daughter," she said. "As to the money? It has been spent. "Is that acceptable? No, and Ranford does not suggest that it is." He had bought $1500 to court as reparation but had earmarked that for his funeral, and Gilbert asked the judge to allow him to keep it for that purpose. "His particular concern is for his daughter. "If he could do anything to take [the offending] back ... if he could bring the money here today, he would have." Judge Marshall accepted what the pair had stated in their affidavits - that at the time, there were tangihanga that the money went towards and "considerable debts" for Ranford's substance abuse. As for Daniela-Ranford, she admitted she'd received $40,000 but said she had spent it on debts and rent. "It still is somewhat puzzling how so much money went so quickly," the judge said. However, given their respective circumstances, he agreed neither should go to jail. He sentenced both to 10 months' home detention and ordered them each to pay a reparation of $20,000 in instalments. Ranford was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. - By Belinda Feek, Open Justice reporter of NZ Herald
NZ Herald
19-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Father and daughter's $200k ATM heist in Hillcrest lands them home detention
The pair were due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court last month and, despite questioning, both denied knowing where the money was. At their sentence indication hearing earlier this year, a police prosecutor believed it may be buried somewhere on the Coromandel Peninsula. Judge Glen Marshall adjourned the case to give them time to recall where the money was, suggesting that if they could it would keep them out of prison. This week, they returned to court on their burglary charges and, through affidavits, said they'd spent the money on debts, rent, vehicles and tangihanga. The heist On May 31, last year, at 4.16pm, Ranford, 60, and his daughter parked outside Yukedas Party and Gift Store in Hillcrest. The pair had slightly altered the registration plates of their Nissan Tiida by changing one of the numbers. Dressed in all black, 26-year-old Daniela-Ranford, of Te Awamutu, got out of the car with her hood up. She walked into the store and went straight to an ATM. Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford, of Te Awamutu, and her father James Lindsay Ranford, of Hamilton, have both been sentenced to home detention. Photos / Belinda Feek Daniela-Ranford entered two codes, which she had learned during her time with Armourguard, and removed five cash canisters containing $50 and $20 notes, court documents stated. She then got into the back seat of the car and Ranford took off 'at high speed', heading east along Clyde St. A short time later, the Nissan was set alight on Holland Rd, Eureka, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The pair was later captured on CCTV at Z petrol station in Hautapu in a Mitsubishi Outlander, registered in Daniela-Radford's name. 'Desperation and irrational thinking' At their sentencing, a police prosecutor said the burglary had caused significant harm to the community. 'I do find it quite hard to believe that the money has just evaporated on various debts and things and it would be the police submission that a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate,' she said. But Daniela-Ranford's counsel, Jaiden Manera, pushed for 60% in discounts so the end sentence would fall within a range where home detention could be considered. The pair were sentenced in Hamilton District Court. He submitted that his client was the sole caregiver of her two children and if she was sent to prison it was 'unclear what the childcare arrangements would be'. She also had a clean criminal history, was subjected to childhood deprivation, qualified for a youth discount and was genuinely remorseful. 'It is clear that this offending is out of character for Ms Daniela-Ranford and, of course, it has all the hallmarks of desperation and perhaps irrational thinking,' he said. 'This offending has had a tremendous impact on her personal life ... and has been a real wake-up call for her.' She would also agree to pay a maximum of $40,000 in reparation, he said. 'It's been spent' Defence counsel Shelley Gilbert said Ranford, who lives in Hamilton, has terminal stage 4 bladder cancer, but no one was able to give a timeframe as to when he would go into hospice care and he remained on medication. Although a pre-sentence report recommended the pair should be jailed, Gilbert said a clinical psychologist's report stated that prison would be 'inappropriate' for Ranford, given his condition. 'Mr Ranford would be a model home detention detainee and hoped to spend his remaining time with his grandchildren and daughter,' she said. 'As to the money? It has been spent. 'Is that acceptable? No, and Mr Ranford does not suggest that it is.' He had bought $1500 to court as reparation but had earmarked that for his funeral, and Gilbert asked the judge to allow him to keep it for that purpose. 'His particular concern is for his daughter. 'If he could do anything to take [the offending] back ... if he could bring the money here today, he would have.' The money went so quickly – judge Judge Marshall accepted what the pair had stated in their affidavits – that at the time, there were tangihanga that the money went towards and 'considerable debts' for Ranford's substance abuse. As for Daniela-Ranford, she admitted she'd received $40,000 but said she had spent it on debts and rent. 'It still is somewhat puzzling how so much money went so quickly,' the judge said. However, given their respective circumstances, he agreed neither should go to jail. He sentenced both to 10 months' home detention and ordered them each to pay a reparation of $20,000 in instalments. Ranford was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 10 years and has been a journalist for 21.
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Father and daughter steal $190k in ATM heist
By Belinda Feek, Open Justice multimedia journalist A former Armourguard employee used the company's special codes to raid almost $200,000 from an ATM in a heist she executed with the help of her father. And while police have managed to claw back more than $30,000, just over $159,000 remains outstanding, with a police officer earlier suspecting it may lie buried on the Coromandel. The heist was carried out by former Armourguard employee, Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford, 26, who enlisted the help of her now terminally-ill father, James Lindsay Ranford, to act as her getaway driver. The pair reappeared in the Hamilton District Court today, where they were due to be sentenced on two charges of burglary. However, Judge Glen Marshall adjourned the case to allow them to try and remember where the stolen money is. 'One issue I have with both defendants is that they both say that the other has had control of the money,' Judge Marshall put to Ranford's counsel, Shelley Gilbert. 'I have talked about that, but I don't think the money is coming ... as of today, I have no instructions about the money,' Gilbert said. Jaiden Manera, counsel for Daniela-Ranford, said the only money she had retained was used to buy a vehicle, which was then seized by police. 'So all in all, Ms Daniela-Ranford, on her instructions, simply was not the beneficiary of the monies. 'That's as far as I can take it.' 'The heist' It was May 31, last year, at 4.16pm when Ranford and his daughter, in a rear passenger seat, parked up outside Yukedas Party and Gift Store in Hillcrest. The pair had slightly altered the registration plates of their Nissan Tiida by changing one of the numbers. Dressed in all black, Daniela-Ranford got out of the car with her hood up and walked into the store and went straight to an ATM cash machine. She entered two codes and removed five canisters containing $50 and $20 notes, court documents say. She then got into the back seat of the car, and Ranford took off 'at high speed', heading east along Clyde St. A short time later, the Nissan was set alight on Holland Rd, Eureka, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The pair was captured on CCTV at Z petrol station in Hautapu in their Mitsubishi Outlander, registered in Daniela-Radford's name. At the hearing, Gilbert successfully asked for her client's sentencing to be adjourned so home detention could be explored as a sentencing option. Police prosecutor Jamie Rowney confirmed $159,300 was still outstanding. Police had gathered $28,000 from the vehicle seizure and found $5000 'laying around' in one of Ranford's vehicles. He labelled their offending as 'significant and egregious,' which had a significant financial implication on the victim company, and there had been no attempts by either defendant to return the money. 'I'm aware that Mr Ranford, in particular, knows where that money is. 'He has not made any effort to return even a small amount. 'This offending has caused real harm to the community.' Manera responded and said Daniela-Ranford had been 'unequivocal' in that she didn't have the money. Judge Marshall agreed to adjourn the sentencing and relax Daniela-Ranford's bail condition, avoiding contact with her father, so the pair could work out where the remaining money is. They were both remanded on further bail to reappear for sentencing next month.
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Daughter and dad nick $200k from ATM
A former Armourguard employee used the company's special codes to raid almost $200,000 from an ATM machine in a heist she executed with the help of her father. And while police have managed to claw back more than $30,000, just over $159,000 remains outstanding, with a police officer earlier suspecting it may lie buried on the Coromandel. The heist was carried out by former Armourguard employee, Jessie-Lee Daniela-Ranford, 26, who enlisted the help of her now terminally-ill father, James Lindsay Ranford, to act as her getaway driver. The pair reappeared in the Hamilton District Court today, where they were due to be sentenced on two charges of burglary. However, Judge Glen Marshall adjourned the case to allow them to try and remember where the stolen money is. 'One issue I have with both defendants is that they both say that the other has had control of the money,' Judge Marshall put to Ranford's counsel, Shelley Gilbert. 'I have talked about that, but I don't think the money is coming ... as of today, I have no instructions about the money,' Gilbert said. Jaiden Manera, counsel for Daniela-Ranford, said the only money she had retained was used to buy a vehicle, which was then seized by police. 'So all in all, Ms Daniela-Ranford, on her instructions, simply was not the beneficiary of the monies. 'That's as far as I can take it.' 'The heist' It was May 31, last year, at 4.16pm when Ranford and his daughter, in a rear passenger seat, parked up outside Yukedas Party and Gift Store in Hillcrest. The pair had slightly altered the registration plates of their Nissan Tiida by changing one of the numbers. Dressed in all black, Daniela-Ranford got out of the car with her hood up and walked into the store and went straight to an ATM cash machine. She entered two codes and removed five canisters containing $50 and $20 notes, court documents say. She then got into the back seat of the car, and Ranford took off 'at high speed', heading east along Clyde St. A short time later, the Nissan was set alight on Holland Rd, Eureka, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The pair was captured on CCTV at Z petrol station in Hautapu in their Mitsubishi Outlander, registered in Daniela-Radford's name. At the hearing, Gilbert successfully asked for her client's sentencing to be adjourned so home detention could be explored as a sentencing option. Police prosecutor Jamie Rowney confirmed $159,300 was still outstanding. Police had gathered $28,000 from the vehicle seizure and found $5000 'laying around' in one of Ranford's vehicles. He labelled their offending as 'significant and egregious,' which had a significant financial implication on the victim company, and there had been no attempts by either defendant to return the money. 'I'm aware that Mr Ranford, in particular, knows where that money is. 'He has not made any effort to return even a small amount. 'This offending has caused real harm to the community.' Manera responded and said Daniela-Ranford had been 'unequivocal' in that she didn't have the money. Judge Marshall agreed to adjourn the sentencing and relax Daniela-Ranford's bail condition, avoiding contact with her father, so the pair could work out where the remaining money is. They were both remanded on further bail to reappear for sentencing next month.
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Youths take joyride in allegedly stolen vehicles
Photo: File A pair of youths were out on an afternoon joyride in two allegedly stolen vehicles when they were caught by police. Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police were called about a pair of teenagers who had stolen two vehicles and taken them on joyrides around the city. Starting in the late afternoon on Friday, the pair first entered a hardware store in Andersons Bay and allegedly stole a screwdriver. They headed to Bridgman St, Kensington, where the teens stole a Nissan Tiida. The pair allegedly took the Tiida on a city-wide joyride, before dumping the car and stealing a Toyota Vitz from the Green Island area. After driving around in the Vitz, they dumped it in the Andersons Bay area, Snr Sgt Bond said. Police were called and located the pair at about 5.45pm. ''They've been spoken to and followed up with by Youth Aid due to their ages,'' Snr Sgt Bond said. At midnight on Saturday, police arrested a 32-year-old man in Maitland St and charged him with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and driving while disqualified. He received a stolen Honda Civic on April 17, and stole a second Honda Civic on April 24. The man would appear in Dunedin District Court this morning.
