Theft car still at Wellington Airport five years later

A Wellington Airport spokesperson confirmed the car was still parked at the airport. Photo: NZPA/Ross Setford

A car linked to a group of international thieves who stole over $770,000 of jewellery five years ago, is still parked at Wellington Airport.

The car, a 2005 Honda Accord, is believed to be parked at the long-term carpark, years after it was used for two thefts in Auckland.

The car was wanted by police after a group of South American thieves robbed foreign jewellery dealers in Auckland in 2011.

The group travelled to New Zealand on false passports, bought cellphones and hired rental cars in order to target jewellery dealers.

They robbed $110,000 from their first victim, an Australian named John Wertheim, who was sitting in his parked car in Parnell.

Two weeks later, the group struck again, targeting two Hong Kong buyers, Chin Fung Ng and Aska Lo, outside the Rydges Hotel in Federal St, robbing them of $610,000 of jewellery.

Wellington Airport confirmed the car was still parked at the airport.