Theft at an Upper Hutt bar, the Grandson of the 87-year-old Victim Speaks Out

Cambelle Cook

Self-Published

27 May, 2025

A quiet afternoon at Quinns Post Bar in Upper Hutt took a distressing turn earlier this month when 87-year-old Kev, a regular patron and resident of the neighbouring Bupa Rest Home, became the victim of a wallet theft.

The incident, in which nearly $700 was stolen, has sparked outrage in Wellington’s online community Vic deals.

Kev, described by his family as a “soft-spoken, gentle man”, had been enjoying a few bets on the pokies before his wallet slipped out of his pocket. Security footage later revealed another patron seizing the opportunity to rifle through the wallet and take the cash.

The theft was particularly painful for the family, as due to health issues, Kev was unable to attend his grandson’s wedding in Australia. The money was a wedding gift, and his way of participating in the celebration from home - a tradition he’s maintained for his other grandchildren.

“At first he didn’t say a word – he didn’t want to make a fuss,” said Kev’s grandson, Daniel Bramwell.

“But eventually he opened up to my father, who then managed to get hold of the security footage. I only found out about it myself just before boarding the flight to the wedding, when my dad sent me the video and asked me to post it on Vic Deals.”

The post quickly gained traction, with Daniel’s comments identifying the alleged thief as Shaun “Thuga”. In a follow-up comment, Daniel wrote, “Everyone meeting Shan ‘Thuga’ a top G real gangster, known for robbing 87-year-old great grandfathers. He’s keeping it real for Upper Hutt.”

Daniels frustration was clear in the comments, offering, “$100 per wing mirror and $250 for a photo of brick through his windscreen.”

The man identified as Shan “Thuga” reportedly returned $200 to Kev after the post went viral, but the family says this does little to repair the damage. “To be honest, we don’t expect much from the police. Petty theft rarely gets the attention it deserves unless you push the issue yourself,” Daniel said.

“Sometimes, a bit of old-fashioned naming and shaming is the only way to hold someone accountable.”

Staff at Quinns Post bar confirmed that the incident is under active police investigation.

“I can’t say too much as it is under investigation by the police. They were in today speaking with us and looking at our CCTV footage,” a spokesperson said.