Singer loses precious tiki in car break-in

Tina Cross. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Singer Tina Cross yesterday spoke of her distress at losing her most precious possession, a whalebone tiki, in a smash-and-grab robbery in Auckland

The tiki, which belonged to her late father, was in her handbag, taken from her car while she was rehearsing at Western Springs on Tuesday nightfor this year's Christmas in the Park concert.

A window of the vehicle was smashed to gain access.

"I am extremely upset to have lost this family taonga," Cross said.

She and her husband were prepared to pay a substantial reward for its return, she said.

Cross initially thought she had lost only replaceable items, such as her mobile phone, wallet, cash, credit cards and make-up, and she reported the incident to police.

"It wasn't until I arrived home later that I realised that my precious taonga, a beautiful whalebone tiki previously owned by my late father, was in my handbag," she said.

"I have been travelling with this lately and had forgotten to take it out of my handbag. This is my most precious possession and I have had it close to me for 27 years."

The rehearsal was between 6.45pm and 7.45pm at Westpoint Theatre, which is down a right-of-way.

Cross said her Lexus car, which had dark tinted windows, was surrounded by others and her handbag was pushed under the passenger dashboard and covered with a jacket.

While she was on the phone cancelling credit cards, two station-wagons with young males in them sped by.

One returned and its occupant hurled abuse at Cross and others.

The car's number plate was noted and given to police.

- NZPA