Grand theft Auckland: Hollywood-style heist cars still missing

This customised VW Golf GTI is still missing after a Hollywood-style car heist in Auckland. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

Two of nine luxury cars worth $500,000 stolen in a Hollywood-style car heist are still missing.

North Shore Police have recovered seven of the European vehicles and made three arrests in relation to the sophisticated, overnight burglary at Tristram European's North Shore storage facility last month.

Nine late-model cars including a Shelby Mustang, an Audi S6 sedan, three Volkswagen Amaroks and a Volkswagen Crafter van were stolen from the facility overnight on Saturday July 9.

Detective Scott Sherer told the Herald today that a 25-year-old Papatoetoe woman and a 34-year-old Ellerslie man have been charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

A 37-year-old Takanini man was charged with unlawfully gets into a motor vehicle.

They were all remanded on bail following a court appearance, he said.

The brazen operation saw high-tech alarm systems disabled and more than 30 other cars moved to get the desired vehicles out.

Police initially recovered five of the cars, some that were found hidden in an underground carpark or abandoned, but the others appeared to have vanished.

Sherer said tips-offs from the public has left to the recovery of the Audi sedan valued at $280,000 and the Volkswagon van.

However, a custom-made Volkswagen Golf with distinctive features and a blue Toyota Yaris remained missing.

"There are only about 40 of these VW Golfs in New Zealand and they're quite distinctive in that they have a distinctive spoiler and alloy wheels, plus twin chrome exhaust pipes," said Sherer.

"We're hoping that by releasing the photo it may spark someone's memory if they've seen it."

Police were still investigating and had not ruled out the possibility of an organised crime group being behind the heist.

"We're still considering a number of scenarios as to why the vehicles were stolen and this includes the possibility this was carried out by a coordinated group."

The two cars outstanding are:

• 2016 A black VW Golf GTI (no rego as it wasn't yet registered in NZ)
• 2006 A blue Toyota Yaris (rego DKG824)

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sherer on 09 213 7902 or via the anonymous tip line Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.