Jet boat and trailer stolen in Canterbury after owner leaves to get tyre repaired

This jet boat was stolen from the side of the road. Photo / Supplied

Police are warning motorists to stay with their vehicle if it breaks down until it can be fixed or towed.

The advice comes after a home-made jet boat was stolen last week after the trailer it was being towed on had a tyre puncture at the corner of Old West Coast and Courtenay Rds.

The driver left the boat and trailer on the side of the road shortly after noon on Tuesday, taking the punctured tyre to get repaired. He returned about 50min later to find the boat and trailer gone.

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Darfield Senior Constable Andy Grant advised motorists not to leave vehicles unattended.

"Our advice is to stay with the vehicle, ring a friend and get them or a tow company to come out with a spare tyre, and if they have to leave their vehicle unattended, maybe try and get to the nearest farmers' place and get permission to secure the vehicle on their property while they are away," Grant said.

He urged people to keep an eye out for the stolen boat, and if they saw it to phone 105 and quote the file number 210112/2838.

Senior Sergeant Dean Harker said there had been other vehicle thefts in the Selwyn area recently.

In mid-January there had been vehicle thefts in the Darfield area, a Polaris side-by-side farm vehicle had been stolen, as well as a couple of quad bikes.

He advised farmers to secure their property, not leave keys in vehicles, and report any such thefts as soon as possible.

Early last week there had been several vehicles broken into, either through unlocked doors or by smashing a window. The cars were parked on the street or up the driveway around the suburban Rolleston area of Lowes Rd, Levi Rd and Masefield Drive.

Harker urged anyone having their car broken into to let police know as soon as possible, and to try not to disturb any forensic evidence which may be on the inside or outside of the car, such as fingerprints.

There had also been a couple of cars stolen from Christchurch and driven to rural roads around Lincoln and then set alight.

Harker advised residents that if they saw any suspicious activity, such as vehicles in convoy travelling to a remote area, late at night or in the early hours of the morning, to report it to police.

- starnews.co.nz