Christmas Day was off to a not-so-merry start for Napier man Benjamin Grimmett whose gardening truck was stolen in the early hours.
While Santa was delivering presents under the cover of darkness, person or persons were helping themselves to the 33-year-old's gardening business.
Mr Grimmett said he had spent Christmas Eve with family in Marewa and awoke the next morning to find his work truck gone.
"It's not the best way to start Christmas; it's my job, my livelihood and how I make money. But you can't let this sort of stuff that's out of your control get to you."
The truck had since been recovered, a police spokesperson confirming they found the stolen vehicle on Roberts Terrace in Onekawa about 10.20am yesterday.
However, the vehicle's battery and a lawn mower, weed eater, hedge trimmer and gardening tools which had been stored in the back were all gone, Mr Grimmett said.
He had planned on returning to work on Wednesday but would now have to go about replacing his truck's battery and taking a serious look at insurance, which he didn't have when the vehicle was taken.
He said while it would be great to get his gear back he wasn't holding his breath.
"It would be nice to get my stuff back but the police can only do what they can do, they're not magicians."
The police spokesperson said a scene of crime officer had completed a forensic examination and police were making inquiries.
Yesterday wasn't the first time his work truck had been a target, Mr Grimmett said.
Fives months into starting Lawnscape just over a year ago, his truck was broken into and a weed eater and hedge trimmer had been stolen.