A man wanted by police for allegedly stealing from women he met through internet dating sites will remain in custody after appearing in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Shane William Grogan (46), also known as Shane Calder, had been sought by police last week for a string of alleged dishonesty offences against women, including one from Waimate, he contacted through the dating sites.
After an appeal for his whereabouts, a member of the public contacted police on Saturday afternoon after identifying him at the South City Mall.
Grogan was wanted on arrest warrants in relation to charges of theft from a dwelling, using a document for pecuniary advantage and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
He was apprehended without incident by police and remanded in custody on Saturday. He appeared in court yesterday by audio-visual link. Grogan was again remanded in custody until next Monday for hearing of an application for bail.
Police were aware of at least three cases where Grogan was alleged to have befriended women through internet dating sites, then travelled to meet them.
The most recent incident occurred about New Year when Grogan travelled to Waimate to meet a woman, aged in her 50s, he met through a dating website. He stayed with her for six days but left after allegedly stealing valuable heirloom jewellery and a computer.
APNZ reported yesterday police believed there might be other victims and urged them to come forward.