Christmas Day was off to a not-so-merry start for Napier man Benjamin Grimmett whose gardening truck was stolen in the early hours.
While Santa was delivering presents under the cover of darkness, person or persons were helping themselves to the 33-year-old's gardening business.
Mr Grimmett said he had spent Christmas Eve with family in Marewa and awoke the next morning to find his work truck gone.
"It's not the best way to start Christmas; it's my job, my livelihood and how I make money. But you can't let this sort of stuff that's out of your control get to you."
The truck had since been recovered, a police spokesperson confirming they found the stolen vehicle on Roberts Terrace in Onekawa about 10.20am yesterday.