With the public's help Eastern Waikato Police hope to burst the bubble of the 'bubbly thief', a man suspected of stealing bottles of champagne from liquor stores across the area.
Sergeant Graham McGurk of the Matamata Police said officers were investigating a number of complaints about a man alleged to have stolen several bottles of the wine.
"It appears he enters a liquor store with a random person, making it appear they are together.
When that person speaks to staff he removes a bottle from the chiller and when his unsuspecting accomplice goes to the counter he grabs the bottle, hides it in his clothingn his trousers and leaves."
Far from satisfying an expensive palate it appears the man then goes to other liquor outlets claiming to have over ordered for events such as weddings and tries to 'return' the goods.
"This scam appears to have been going on since last year.
"We first became aware of it after the owners of a Matamata liquor store spoke to relatives who own a similar shop in Te Aroha where the offender tried to return bottles claiming they were over ordered."
And it appears the man may have struck as recently as yesterday with a previous victim rushing to Matamata's Police station having recognised the thief.
"He'd been to a local New World and was seen by the victim parked outside Subway, coincidently he was wearing the same top as in the security camera footage."
"We were unable to locate him yesterday but our inquiries are continuing, from what we've tracked down so far we believe the man is not from the Matamata-Piako area but travels in to our patch, offends then leaves," he said.
Anyone who recognises the man in the photo or has any information on his identity is asked to contact Mr McGurk at the Matamata Police Station on 07 888 7117.
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