A destructive joy ride that ended with a written-off car has left a student, who works two jobs, without a vehicle for a month.
Ru Lucas was babysitting on Norwich St, Stoke in early July when her Mazda Demio was stolen from outside the home.
The counselling student, who works two jobs to get by, walked outside to her car just two hours after parking it, but it was gone.
“I walked out and was like, I swear I parked my car there, then I clicked.”
The car was found two days later in Motueka, destroyed and full of McDonald’s rubbish.
Ru, a bassist in local youth band ‘The Batteries’, says music is a big hobby of hers.
The thieves made off with her beloved B.C. Rich Bronze Warlock bass that was in the car at the time and which she hasn’t been able to replace.
“I’m currently just using another one that we have in the band at the moment.”
The assailants had also thrown all of her study notes out somewhere along the joyride.
“I can’t afford to replace the rest of the stuff that was stolen.”
Police detective senior sergeant Craig Johnston says police have noticed an increase in theft of and from vehicles in the region.
Between 10 February and 28 June, 14 Mazda Demios had been reported stolen in the Nelson area.
While Craig says the increase clearly started with Demios, they are not the only vehicle being targeted.
“What we are seeing is typically older vehicles that are easier to break into and start. They don’t have immobilisers and alarms, that kind of thing.”
He says it’s a mixture of cars being parked on the road or in driveways, and areas with more activity have been Stoke, Tāhunanui and Richmond.
“We say this a lot, but don’t leave valuables in the car; wallets, cellphones, bank cards.”
Craig recommends parking somewhere that has the best possible lighting or next to a bedroom window so you’re more likely to hear a disturbance.
He says there have been random instances of tyre slashings and car damage across the district.
“We’ve got no idea why someone would want to do that.”
He says if anyone notices someone acting suspiciously around vehicles they should call 111 immediately so police can deal with it at the time.
Ru has just this week purchased her new car; a Toyota Platz. Her advice to others; “Don’t buy a Demio.”
