Thieves take glass eye and other valuables

LOW BLOW: Mike Delamere's glass eye was stolen during an after-work swim with his workmates, Peter Simeon (left) and John Montgomery. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

A Napier man's glass eye has been stolen from a popular bathing spot plagued by thieves.

Mainfreight storeman Mike Delamere was enjoying an after-work swim with his workmates at the popular Maraetotara Falls, south of Havelock North, at about 1pm on Tuesday when the theft occurred.

Wary of the the bathing spot's reputation for thefts, the men put their valuables - including Mr Delamere's eye - into one bag which they took with them.

The bag was placed against a tree at the top of the waterfall and the men jumped into the pool below.

"I checked it five minutes later and it was gone," Mr Delamere said.

He suspected two men who were getting out of the water as the three men arrived.

"There was nobody else there at the time."

With no keys or cellphones, the men were left stranded and upset. More bathers arrived soon after and they were able to arrange delivery of a spare key for their car.

The bathers described seeing an erratically-driven car as they drove to the falls from Haumoana.

The three men drove to Haumoana and surrounding districts in search of the car before filing a report with police.

"It would have been all right if they had taken out just the phones - the valuable stuff - hell, I wouldn't have cared at all," Mr Delamere said.

"But to take the whole bag and leave us there with no keys to drive out - for me that is is pretty sad."

He is appealing for the return of his eye. A replacement will cost him $1000 and until it is made he will have to wear a temporary glass piece to keep his eye socket from closing over.

"It is my glass eye I miss the most - I'm booked in for March 18 to get another one made up."

Maraetotara Falls has long been plagued by thieves and has been designated by police as an area of interest. The carpark has signs warning people of the dangers of leaving valuables unattended.

Last week Hawke's Bay Today reported two Austrian students had cash, clothing and personal items stolen from their van after its window was smashed.

Last month another group of tourists were victims of theft at the same place when their vehicles were broken into.

Anyone with information is asked to phone local police or Crimestoppers.