Woman's new car stolen at VTNZ station

A vehicle was stolen at a Vehicle Testing Station this week while its new buyer was awaiting an inspection. Photo / NZPA

A woman is outraged that the car she was just about to buy was stolen while it was being inspected at an Auckland Vehicle Testing New Zealand station.

Amy Tyler had just won a Trade Me auction for her "dream car", a 2003 Holden Commodore Executive, for which she was going to pay $8500.

The car's owner, Mukund Brahmbhatt, had allowed her to take it with her before any money changed hands so she could get it checked over.

Ms Tyler said staff at VTNZ in Mt Wellington told her she should go home while they inspected the car yesterday and they would contact her when it was ready.

But when she heard from them again she was asked whether someone had already picked it up because it was nowhere to be seen.

"It seems that they left the car unattended with the keys in the ignition and went into the office. In the meantime, someone came along, got into my car and drove it away," Ms Tyler said.

"This does not give me a good feeling about going back to VTNZ and trusting my personal details and vehicle with people who leave them unattended and gives thieves a perfect opportunity."

She said it was shocking that VTNZ didn't have security cameras.

Ms Tyler said she had received no apology from VTNZ nor any offer to replace her keys, or even a ride home.

VTNZ spokesman Brian Sara said it was an unfortunate incident but certainly not a common one.

"Of course it's a concern that it's happened but, to be fair, we do 1.5 million inspections on vehicles every year and we certainly don't lose many cars.

"I've been in the game 28 years. I can't remember when we last lost a car, but it can happen."

He said he had been assured by his staff that they had apologised to Ms Tyler, they had offered to get new keys cut and offered to give her a ride home.

Mr Brahmbhatt said he could not believe his ears when he was told what had happened.

It was "absolutely pathetic" that the car had been stolen from beneath VTNZ's noses.

He said he had not received an apology from the organisation.

Fortunately, he had not cancelled his insurance.