A Good Samaritan couple who tried to help three men jump-start a vehicle were repaid by having their home burgled and their $40,000 car stolen and torched.
The couple, who did not wish to be named, were going out for the evening on Saturday when they came across the broken down car outside their rural Brightwater home, near Nelson, The Nelson Mail reported.
They stopped to give the men a hand by trying in vain to jump-start their stricken vehicle before continuing on their journey.
They returned home to find their Holden Captiva missing. It was later found burnt out "to nothing but a shell".
The couple also discovered that alcohol, cash, a TV and a camera had been stolen from their home.
