Two thefts from overseas tourists in four weeks has certainly riled our readers.
Last month, a German couple lost irreplaceable photos and other items after parking in Walton St and walking to the Town Basin.
On Sunday, six Japanese girls had their van broken into within minutes of parking at the Town Basin.
I fielded several calls yesterday from readers relating their own crime experiences at the Town Basin, and their disgust that someone is targeting visitors coming to Northland who leave with the sour taste of theft in their mouths. Short-term, the Advocate is in a position to invite the victims of the latest crime back. They were young Japanese girls learning English in Auckland, who had saved for their trip north. As their host "Dad" says, they now feel anywhere north of Auckland is unsafe. That's sad - but thanks to Jeroen Jongejans (Dive Tutukaka!), Tutukaka Holiday Park and Snapper Rock restaurant we can offer the girls some free tourism treats if they can come back. That's fantastic short-term - long-term, what do we do?
One caller yesterday related how she avoided taking visitors to the Town Basin, for fear of having their vehicle broken into. As she pointed out, that means businesses are missing out on local dollars too.-
