That is what happened.
He did make a lot of mistakes. Both inside and outside of WHF. It was a big step up from robbing the caravan site.
It's alleged by some he was involved in crime in NZ, including how he got the cartier watches.
Julie says he planned to rob an Arab and he was ever contemplating breaking into Andy and Karen Bishops house.
There was also a drug investigation going on.
So it's possible he was involved in low level crime. But of course this is small potatoes when compared to the massacre.
To me I'd be a hypocrite for calling him out on this. But I see why some might. You yourself reference often his behaviour in reference to what he was doing and up to to his detriment prior the massacre.