Nephew of dead Waihi man wants thieves brought to justice

William Pere (right) said his uncle Henry Pere had a huge influence on his upbringing. Photo / William Pere

The nephew of a Waihi man whose wallet was stolen while he lay dying on the street wants the thieves brought to justice in his uncle's home town.

Henry Pere, 61, died last Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm on a central street in the town.

Police are now hunting for a Hawke's Bay couple who attempted to help Pere before allegedly swiping his wallet and taking off. There was already a warrant out for the man and woman's arrest.

William Pere said his uncle had gone to the bank to deposit some money before pausing outside to speak to his friend when the incident occurred. His friend had said farewell and was walking away when he heard Henry's car revving.

"When he had his turn he must have floored it," William said.

A group of locals soon gathered around Pere's car and tried to help him.

One man ran to the closest community help desk to retrieve a defibrillator which was used to temporarily revive Pere. But William said it was the same man that, soon after, turned around and did the unthinkable.

"He did a really good thing, but then he came back and stole his wallet."

Pere died soon after.

William said he and his family were disgusted by the actions of the thieves, understood to be a 23-year-old woman and 25-year-old man from Napier.

"We're angry, we're devastated, everything.

"No one could believe that someone would steal a dying man's wallet."

The 37-year-old said money wasn't the issue, though he did wish the family still had the wallet to remember Pere by.

The family wanted the pair to be brought back to Waihi to face the consequences in front of Pere's family and the township.

William described his uncle as a lively man who loved his guitars and his motorbikes. He had a huge influence on his upbringing, he said.

"He was always joking around and was a pretty healthy guy. I'd never known him to have any sort of health condition," he said.

Another woman who joined those trying to save the life of Pere said the wanted couple were extremely helpful, not hesitating to retrieve a defibrillator and making the suffering local as comfortable as possible. The woman even put her jacket under Pere's head to cushion it as others tried to revive him.

She said as police arrived the couple left, apologising for the quick departure.

She said Henry's wallet and phone were passed around to up to five different people as everyone focused on saving a life - including the couple now accused of theft.

Senior Constable Scott Tyrrell had scathing words for the couple who took advantage of a terrible situation, branding it "appalling".

"If they had any sense they would hand themselves in before we catch up with them."