KEY POINTS:
Thieves have stolen flowers left at the scene where "good Samaritan" Austin Hemmings died.
The 44-year-old Devonport man was stabbed while helping a woman being attacked in Mills Lane, central Auckland, last week.
Mr Hemmings' widow, Jenny, who called for people to write to her when she spoke at her husband's funeral on Wednesday, said it had been "very, very comforting" receiving more than 100 letters from people following Austin's death.
Tributes including flowers, notes and cards have also been left by a ponga tree just metres from where Mr Hemmings died. But a dishonest act has occurred where Mr Hemmings gave his life doing the right thing.
Dr Judy Gill, who works at nearby Auckland Metro Doctors and Travelcare, said a large bouquet of yellow poppies had been stolen.
"On Monday there were some magnificent, beautiful poppies, still in their pot," she said. "I went out to admire them and they were gone. They were there in the morning and gone in the afternoon. It was the best flowers that were taken."
Mrs Hemmings, still clearly overwhelmed by the tragedy, said of the theft: "They were stealing more than flowers. People were trying to make a tribute to Austin. They were thumbing their nose at people's kindness."
However, there have been many acts of kindness to Mr Hemmings' family since his death.
Hastings woman Kay Clayton has set up a bank account to help raise money for the family to take his ashes to Israel, which he had been talking about visiting.
Mrs Hemmings said it was too early to say how she felt about the generous offerings from people because the family weren't needy.
Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said the theft was something that unfortunately happened to some tributes left at crime scenes.
* People can go to any ASB branch and donate to the Austin Hemmings Israel Account. 12-3145-0201472-00.
