Cruise over for light-fingered passenger
A Brazilian couple will have to find their own way home from Dunedin after they were kicked off a cruise ship over a designer handbag theft.
Police were called to Port Otago following a report of a theft on-board the Celebrity Solstice.
Senior Constable Steve Tvrdeic, of Port Chalmers, said a passenger allegedly stole a branded handbag worth hundreds of American dollars.
The theft occurred while the vessel was in Fiordland and was dealt with by the ship's security.
Security later contacted Dunedin Police at the next port of call.
Tvrdeic said he understood the passenger involved was a Brazilian national and the person and their partner would have to leave the ship.
"I understand the onus is on them to make their own way home," he said.
"It has certainly ruined their cruise."
Calls for police to assist on-board ships visiting Port Chalmers were rare, Tvrdeic said.
The luxury vessel has an occupancy of 2850 passengers and 1500 crew, and features a live grass lawn and glass blowing classes.
Written by Hamish McNeilly. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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