Owner of stolen car used in Rotorua ram-raid speaks out

Dean Raimona was having the "worst year", and had joked with his partner that "nothing else could go wrong".

That was, until his car was stolen and used to ram-raid Malfroy Rd Challenge Petrol Station.

He was on the phone to his mum on Tuesday evening when his car was stolen from the driveway.

"My keys were stolen on Monday night, they had the house keys on them and it cost us $700 to change the locks.

"They couldn't change the locks on the car until next week."

The back lights of the vehicle were smashed in. Photo/Supplied

The car received more than $3000 of damage, with the ignition removed, smashed windows and lights and the need to replace the gearbox.

"It doesn't look as bad as I think people would expect," he said.

"Funnily enough it's one of the reasons we bought it; it's solid."

The group that stole Dean Raimona's car left it in a mess, including leaving an axe and empty alcohol cans.

Raimona has lived in his Fordlands property for the past six months and said he saw "fights and s***" all the time.

"There's fear here," he said.

"Who would think adults would be afraid of children?

"I know the group, where we live everybody knows them but there's not a lot the police can do."

When he collected his car Raimona said Cody's beer cans and an axe were left in the vehicle.

"That worried me as well, what more they could have done," he said.

Raimona said he had already had the worst year, as a family member and close friend had been diagnosed as terminally ill.

The ignition on the vehicle was removed. Photo/Supplied

"My partner and I have a lot of talking to do, it's worrisome and I don't want him to be worried.

"We'll just take it one day at a time and hope that someone doesn't steal our next car."

Anyone with information or saw the ram-raid is asked to contact Rotorua police on (07) 349 9400, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.