Two German tourists who had all of their belongings stolen from their campervan at Fairy Falls in West Auckland have been reunited with their property, thanks to Browns Bay Police.
Yesterday morning, Birgit Handl and Janina Loewer went for an hours walk and returned to their van at around 11.45am, but found that it had been broken into. Everything they owned was gone, including their passports, credit cards, money, Go-Pro cameras and their backpacks containing all their clothing.
An hour later Police officers from the Browns Bay Station were on their way to make an unrelated enquiry in Massey, when officers noticed a car with a driver that was acting suspiciously. They pulled it over and established that the car was stolen and the driver was wanted for multiple burglaries, thefts and stealing from cars.
Police searched the vehicle and found Birgit and Janina's passports and travel documents.
The 23 year-old man was arrested and taken back to the station.
The officers made further enquiries and an hour or so later it was established that more of the tourists property was suspected to be in a house on Royal Road, Massey.
A team of Police immediately searched the property and found more items that belonged to Janina and Birgit.
The 19 year-old tourists were reunited with their belongings this morning.
"They were overwhelmed and a bit teary. They'd been left with only the clothes they were wearing and were just so grateful to get their gear back" says Sergeant Tony Bruce, Browns Bay Police.
"It was awesome to be able to hand their stuff to them and I admit we let out a few 'woohooos' when we found the rest of their things" says Sgt Bruce.
The 23 year-old man has been charged with a total of 23 charges and will appear this afternoon in the North Shore District Court.
-Seven x theft ex car
-Seven x using a document
-Two x burglary
-One x theft
-Three x unlawfully taking a motor vehicle
-Two x driving without a licence
-One x breach of court release conditions
ENDS
Caption from left to right - Constable Matthew Ghezzi, Birgit Handl, Janina Loewer, Sgt Tony Bruce, Constable Kylie McKenzie
Beth Bates/Waitemata Police
