Teens' Harley theft plan ends when trailer flips

Two teenage brothers have been remanded in custody for sentencing on charges relating to the madcap mid-winter Sunday afternoon taking of a $37,000 Harley-Davidson motorbike from a busy Napier shopping centre carpark.

But it wasn't without a struggle as one of the pair and a third man denied their involvement during a three-hour hearing before Judge Tony Adeane in Napier District Court last week.

Judas James Rarere, 18, of Napier, was however found guilty on charges of unlawfully taking the motorbike, burglary involving the taking of a trailer used to carry the machine and dangerous driving. Defence counsel Scott Jefferson said Rarere denied being involved.

Remanded in custody for sentencing on February 9, he joins 19-year-old brother Ihaka Rarere who on Monday admitted unlawfully taking the motorbike.

Third-accused Richard Jason McRoberts, 29, of Taradale, had a charge of unlawfully taking the motorbike dismissed, although he admitted being at the scene.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Flood said the events unfolded between 1pm and 2.30pm on August 28 after a trailer was taken from an enclosed yard in the Onekawa industrial district.

Soon afterwards it was towed up a ramp off Hastings St into the Noel Leeming carpark, and parked on the ramp facing back to the road while the motorbike was loaded on to it.

Its alarm activated as the machine fell on to its side on the trailer and the thieves made a hurried departure, chased by members of the public.

Still pursued by witnesses on foot and in cars, the car, trailer and motorbike stopped briefly in Vautier St to secure the trailer tailgate which had been dragging along the road, and then in the closed-off Hall St where Ihaka Rarere fled the vehicle.

The chase continued through the Pak'nSave carpark where McRoberts leapt out and went into the supermarket, while Judas Rarere continued driving, until the trailer hit a kerb and a vehicle and overturned. He then fled on foot.

Evidence from 11 witnesses was produced, including CCTV footage and cellphone images of parts of the chase, and that of a police officer who interviewed McRoberts in Hawke's Bay Prison nine days after the incident.