Thieves target tourist locations

Thieves are getting away with passports and many thousands of dollars in cash and travellers' cheques as they target buses and cars at popular Auckland tourist spots.

Mt Eden, the Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain and Bastion Pt have been hit continuously.

In one case this week a Chinese man lost US$5000, his passport and airline tickets home.

About five months ago another Chinese tourist lost US$10,000 when his bus was targeted on Mt Eden.

He had arrived in New Zealand only that day.

Auckland Bus Company driver Michael Painter, who was driving the tourists in both cases, said his bus had been targeted four times on Mt Eden this year and once at Bastion Pt.

The thieves were devious, telling drivers their tour guides needed them so they would leave the bus unattended and tourists' bags could be stolen.

"We [bus drivers] have all raised the issue of security cameras," Mr Painter said. "We have suggested the Auckland City Council set up surveillance but they just don't want to know about it."

The council is considering banning buses from Mt Eden's summit, replacing them with miniature trains to shuttle visitors to the top.

Mt Eden community constable Tammy Dunlop was at Mt Eden yesterday afternoon, giving leaflets to visitors telling them to remove valuables from their cars and lock them.

She said thefts from vehicles on the mountain had risen in the past month, but she believed many were not reported.

As tourist buses lined Mt Eden yesterday afternoon about 100 tourists, many straight off international flights, wandered to the lookout, leaving their valuables on their coaches.

Scenic Coachline and Tours driver Kevin Dustow has a sign on the front of his bus warning passengers that Mt Eden and the museum are dangerous areas and the company will not be held responsible for thefts.

About 12 months ago a tourist with Scenic had to be taken to hospital after a thief snatched her bag from her shoulder and pushed her over.

"We've had a directive sent out saying that we must stay with our coaches," Mr Dustow said.

Tom Laskey from On The Road Tours said he had watched a car pull up at the summit and a person hop out, then heard a screech of tyres.

He saw the person get back into the car with a bag before speeding off. He later saw the same car at Kelly Tarlton's and in the Domain.

The council's public safety and community order committee chairman, Graeme Mulholland, was to meet police yesterday and raise the issue again.