Until last weekend Kyle Dickson's four-month Kiwi holiday had been "brilliant".
That was until the Scot, who hails from the Isle of Bute, parked the Subaru Legacy stationwagon in which he and girlfriend Megan had been travelling the country on her parents' front lawn in Napier South last Saturday night.
But he
made two mistakes - one of them critical.
First, he believed that off the road and tucked away amidst a garden in a quiet part of town his car would be safe.
Second, and crucially, he left the keys in the ignition.
"I feel absolutely terrible about that - I just forgot."
His girlfriend was woken about 4am Sunday by what sounded like a nearby car being driven off - and a few hours later her father went outside and saw an empty space where the 1993 maroon-coloured Subaru had been.
Mr Dickson said he lost two digital cameras - "with all our holiday photos on them" - a large amount of clothing, a backpack, sunglasses, two bank cards and his driving licence.
"It's my first time out here and it had been brilliant - until now. It has soured it a wee bit but people have been great."
He conceded leaving the keys in the car was not clever but because it was well off the road he thought it would have been safe regardless.
Crime Prevention officer Paul Miller said thieves were constantly roaming the region looking for any opportunity to break into cars, or steal them.
"Ensure they are locked and that nothing is left in them," he said.
If possible, vehicles should be parked in well-lit areas.
