A family is “gutted” after their collection of vintage model steam engines dating back to the 1930s was stolen.
The collection of the late Jim Pendergrast’s treasures started when he was 6 in 1932 and has been loved by the family since.
However, 12 of the model steam engines were taken from a locked shed in rural Oropi in the Bay of Plenty sometime over the last weekend of April, Jim’s son Hans Pendergrast said.
It is believed the collection was specifically targeted.
“The impact throughout our family was substantial,” Pendergrast told the Bay of Plenty Times.
“Somebody knew that they were there and specifically came to collect them.”
For Pendergrast, “the hardest thing of all to understand” was why someone would want to take the model steam engines because they were not worth much financially.
He urged people to keep a lookout for them listed on resale websites.
“The family is really disappointed that this has happened and we’d love to have them back.”
Police responded to a burglary that occurred between 5pm on Friday, April 28, and 9am on Monday, May 1, in Oropi.
A spokesman said a scene examination was conducted on Tuesday, May 2, but there were no lines of inquiry.