$80,000 stolen boat returned to Auckland couple

Waitakere Police reunited the Blockhouse Bay pair with their prized fishing boat. Photo / NZ Police

A boat worth $80,000 has been returned to an Auckland couple after it was stolen from the front of their house two weeks ago.

Waitakere Police reunited the Blockhouse Bay pair with their prized fishing boat, after it was found behind a block of flats in Kelston.

A 19-year-old man will appear in the Waitakere District Court on June 16 and on two charges of receiving stolen property.

The couple woke up on the morning of May 15 to find their 59 McClay Cruiser Hard Top Boat with an Evinrude outboard motor had been stolen, despite having locked and secured the vessel with a wheel lock.

Constable Paul Larsen of Waitakere Police said a young man had allegedly been seen painting a boat in a Kelston driveway that weekend.

Police went to the address and found the boat with a different registration plate and a new coat of paint.

Following further investigation Police arrested and charged the man.

"I rang up the owner and said 'we've got your boat here' and he couldn't believe it.

"He and his wife came down and we helped them hook it up and tow it back home," Mr Larsen said.

He said the couple were relieved to get it back.

Enquiries into who stole the boat were ongoing and police said they were following strong lines of enquiry.