Caravans stolen from Pouawa

DRAGGED: Gouge marks in the grass can be seen where one of the caravans was forcibly removed from its freedom camping spot in Pouawa around 1.30am yesterday. Pictures supplied

Two caravans stolen from their freedom camping spots at Pouawa yesterday morning were removed with the wheel clamps still attached.

One of the caravans was recovered in Glenroy Road, 7km north of Pouawa, with a missing wheel.

Both caravans were unoccupied at the time.

The owner of the missing caravan said both caravans were forcibly towed away, leaving big gouge marks in the grass.

“The legs had been wrenched off both caravans as they were towed away with the wheel clamps still on. It was possibly a red vehicle, with fishing rods stacked in it, according to a person who may have seen it.

“There were also numerous thefts from various campsites from Turihaua up to the end of Pouawa beach.”

The woman, who did not want to be named, said a Gisborne District Council employee checking on the freedom camping sites notified her, and she went out to inspect the site.

“The ground had been gouged quite deeply on both sites where the vehicle used to tow the caravans had pulled them away without lifting up some of the legs underneath.”

The owner said a person living opposite the campgrounds had reported being woken up about 1.30am yesterday by “really loud noises”, when the caravans were taken away.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on the non-emergency number 105.