A Tauranga school is pleading for help, after thousands of dollars of damage was caused by people attempting to take their newly donated bikes.
Gate Pa School principal Richard Inder was disappointed to learn the two shipping container doors which housed the school bikes had been forcefully caved in last week, far enough for a person to get inside.
They were pushed in beyond use, meaning the school would have to front up "a couple of thousand" to fix the doors.
"It's coming out of the school pocket. Considering all the generous support we've got from the various groups that have made this possible, it's a slap in the face for them too."
The school's caretaker has since pulled the doors back in and screwed them shut.
The 50 bikes which were cable-tied together were luckily untouched, but had been moved to a different location to keep them safe.
The bikes were donated to the school in August for children to use the school's bike tracks.
It's very frustrating, and it makes you very angry, for people who want to do this to schools and kids.
"The bikes mean a lot to the children, with not many actually owning a bike themselves. It's very frustrating, and it makes you very angry, for people who want to do this to schools and kids.
"You're trying to create something for the community, and it annoys you big time when people try and stuff it up, destroy things rather than create things," Mr Inder said.
Despite not being able to touch the bikes, about six of helmets were taken.
"There will be people that know what is going on, just let the police know," Mr Inder said.
A police spokesperson said they attended the incident after an alarm was activated at Gate Pa School at 2pm on January 3.
"No one has been arrested but police are still looking into it."
The 50 bikes
Bikes in Schools Charitable Trust donated $10,000 and Rotary donated $4000.
The children are learning road safety skills and bike maintenance like changing a tyre and adjusting brakes.