Thieves stole four wheels from a van in a smash-and-grab raid in Napier on Monday, watched by the owner and a neighbour and in full view of golfers on the 18th tee at a nearby golf club.
The raid happened as a possibly stolen car rammed into the van on a grass verge off Te Awa Ave, alongside the fairway at the Maraenui Golf Club course.
![A car is rammed into a parked van in what appears a deliberate attempt to lift it up high enough to take the tyres off it. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/274MGWNCBDGPOO7WZAVII5PETM.jpg?auth=97a4d49b089b11fad5827d7033eae8450dae80874d1aea9b969677645182dbb6&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
A video taken by a witness shows the car was smashed into the van to help prop the van up so the wheels could be removed and taken in a quick getaway.