Four happy Germans and one happy Australian were treated to the lows and highs of travelling around Auckland today.
Sometime between 8.15am and just after midday a vehicle was stolen from Khyber Pass Rd, Newmarket. At about 12.30pm four German tourists, all packed and ready to leave the country this evening, had their Jucy Rental van broken into at the Mt Eden Summit. All their bags were stolen along with their passports, phones, i-pads and laptop, among many other things.
At around 12:45 an Australian woman had her vehicle broken into at Mount Eden Summit on Puhi Huia Road, Mount Eden. Her handbag, containing $600 cash and iphone, was stolen. She tracked the i-phone and reported this to Police at Auckland Central Station while, simultaneously, officers from Beat Section 1 attended the Titoki St location where the phone was signalling.
If finding the 'phone wasn't satisfying enough, they also located the dumped stolen Newmarket vehicle, inside which were all the bags, passports and electronics belonging to the German tourists. The Australian woman's bag and i-phone were also able to be returned to her.
Another camper van, which had also been broken into, was parked in front of the stolen vehicle. Some items had been taken from it, some of which was also in the dumped, stolen vehicle.
Auckland Central Area Commander, Inspector Jill Rogers, says she's very proud of the staff who managed to turn the day around from gloom to glee for at least five people.
"We're constantly reminding people that opportunist thieves are on the prowl to snare whatever valuable portable items they can. Our best advice is to ensure valuables are kept out of view when in parked vehicles or items are taken out of the vehicles if they're unattended."
Police are still investigating the matters and will be exploring whether any footage of those responsible for the thefts can be obtained.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty, Auckland City District communications manager.