Response to theft hurts NZ's image, say tourists

Two German visitors robbed of their possessions say the lack of police interest in the theft reflects badly on New Zealand as a tourist destination.

Brothers Micha and Dennis Mueller said Auckland police appeared to have no interest in finding the thieves, and that an officer at the Auckland Central public counter told them "it happens all the time".

The brothers lost everything when their rental car was broken into at the Mobil station on the corner of Ponsonby Rd and Karangahape Rd on Tuesday.

The men provided police with security footage of the robbery but left Auckland yesterday not knowing whether police would investigate the crime.

A spokeswoman for Auckland City police said the matter would be investigated.

Micha Mueller said he was told on Thursday that the theft report had not been entered into the computer system and police had not viewed the security footage.

Two thieves, captured on security tape from the waist down, were seen transferring the tourists' possessions - backpacks full of clothing, digital cameras, cellphones, passports, and a wallet with cash and credit cards - from the boot of the rental car into a two-door sports car.

The security footage gave only a partial registration number. However, Micha Mueller said he recognised the clothing as that worn by some window washers he had seen earlier.

Mr Mueller said he reported the robbery at the police station soon after it happened. Later that afternoon, he obtained the security footage from the service station and delivered it to police.

He returned to the station on Wednesday and Thursday to find out what was happening with the investigation. Mr Mueller said that after his exchange with a police officer at the public counter he was left with the impression police had no interest in the robbery.

"He was like, 'it doesn't matter if we catch them. It happens all the time'."

Mr Mueller said he had been impressed by the generosity of other New Zealanders who had offered to help the pair.