Three Blenheim men have been caught trying to sell stolen property back to the people it was stolen from.

Lawson Henare Reihana, 18, Clark Koroheke, 19, and Broghan Wyatt Rakete, 18, obtained two hard drives from an unknown person on March 29, a police summary of facts said.

The hard drives were stolen earlier that day.

They took the hard drives to a house on Warwick St, in Blenheim, where two other men lived, hoping to sell them.

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The men recognised the hard drives as stolen from their house and called police.

When spoken to by police, the defendants said they did not steal the hard drives, they just wanted to sell them.

Rakete and Koroheke admitted receiving stolen property at the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

Reihana denied the joint charge and elected a judge alone trial.

Judge Richard Russell said on Monday the maximum penalty for receiving stolen property was seven years' imprisonment.

"Without receivers, there would be less burglars and less burglaries. You are part of the chain," Judge Russell said.

Rakete was convicted and fined $500, and sentenced to pay $23 in reparation.

Koroheke was convicted and sentenced to 40 hours' community work, and to pay $23 in reparation.

If they were charged with a similar offence in the future, "the gloves will be off, and a tougher outcome will follow," Judge Russell said.

Reihana was remanded on bail to May 30 for a case review hearing.