Four bikes stolen from IronMaori quarter-Ironman competitors in Napier during the weekend are understood to be still missing.
Police Eastern District communications manager Kris McGehan said yesterday none of the bikes had been found.
Missing are a black Avanti Corsa with green wheel-rims, belonging to Hutt Valley man Rawiri Evans, and three bikes belonging to Rotorua friends Sonia Te Whare, Sarah Wiwarena and Louise Rickard. Mr Evans' black Avanti Corsa with green wheel-rims, worth about $3000, was taken from the back of a vehicle parked in Thames St, Pandora, during Saturday afternoon's prize-giving.
A yellow, grey and black Scott with Aero bars, worth over $3000, along with a white Specialized-branded bike and a blue and silver Genius, was taken early the following morning from the women's vehicle, which was backed in to towards the door of their unit at a Westshore motel.
Mr Evans wrote in a message to Hawke's Bay Today: "I completed IronMaori then had my bike stolen while at prize-giving. So sad my 3000 dollar bike has been taken, broke my heart after completing my whole 1/4iron man. Please help me get my bike back."
Ms Te Whare said that, while the thefts had devastated the trio, friends and other competitors, it had not taken the gloss off the event and the group's stay in Napier. "I'm 47," she said, "and I've never had anything stolen from me before. I look after my stuff, because I worked hard to earn it."