Bold thieves burn van used to steal kid's cycles

A $1000 reward is offered to help catch brazen thieves who stole a van which they used to transport four stolen motorcycles before setting it alight at Hikurangi.

Police are investigating after the silver Mazda EZ500 van was stolen from Kamo shortly after 2am yesterday then used to transport four motorcycles that were stolen from Rouse Motorcycle Repairs and Spares a short time later.

The van was set on fire in Mountain View Rd, Hikurangi, after the stolen bikes were believed to have been transferred to another vehicle. The van's owner, Tikipunga Tavern owner Charmaine Ropiha, is offering a $1000 reward to help catch the thieves.

Rouse Motorcycles owner Shane Rouse said the thieves smashed their way into the store shortly before 2.40am yesterday and in a matter of minutes made off with four blue Yamaha children's motorcycles: Two TTR110s worth more than $4000 each, a PW50 worth about $2000 and a TTR50 worth more than $2000.

Mr Rouse said the burglary was distressing, but he was hopeful CCTV footage from the store would identify the thieves.

"It's pretty stink, but life goes on and hopefully we can catch them [through the CCTV footage]," he said.

Mr Rouse said anybody offered a Yamaha child's motorcycle for sale or who saw any suspicious activity or people around the shop in the early hours of yesterday should ring police.

Ms Ropiha said the distinctive Mazda van, which had Tikipunga Tavern livery all over it, was stolen from outside their Ridgeway Dr home while she and her partner slept.

"We got a call from the police about 2.30am just after neighbours had seen it [taken] so we went out driving around having a look to see if we could find it," she said.

"Then about 4.30am we got another call saying they'd found it burnt out in Hikurangi. It's terrible and I want to offer a $1000 reward to catch the mongrels."

Ms Ropiha said $1000 would be given to the person who gave information that led to a successful prosecution of the thieves.

She was angry at the theft, and subsequent burning of the vehicle, and hoped a reward would be an incentive for somebody to come forward with information. They could call police or ring her at Tikipunga Tavern on 437 2955.

Whangarei police Acting Sergeant Darron Goodwin said anybody with information on the burglary or van theft, or who had been offered children's motorbikes for sale, should contact Whangarei police on 420 4500.