Thieves urged to return laptop containing medical research

Police are appealing to thieves who took a laptop containing valuable research on meningococcal meningitis from a parked car in Manukau , south Auckland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Middleton, of Counties Manukau police, said the contents of the laptop, stolen on Monday night, were irreplaceable.

He urged the thieves to return it.

"Someone knows who took the laptop and knows who is in possession of it. We are appealing to that person or persons to do the decent thing and contact us."

Mr Middleton said the information on the laptop was of no use to the offenders, but the paediatric doctor who owned the computer was desperate to have it returned, especially with the amount of research that was stored on the machine.

"A lot of valuable time will be lost in advancing this research if the laptop is not returned to its rightful owner."

The laptop, a cellphone and bag, were taken about 6pm on Monday from the doctor's Holden Commodore car parked at The Warehouse car park in Cavendish Drive, Manukau.

- NZPA