“We were just trying to build our business back up, now there’s nothing to build. This is our livelihood and we are a couple in our 50s trying to earn a keep by commercial cleaning,” Watson lamented.
Allison’s cellphone, chemicals, vacuum cleaners, security codes, keys to the cleaning sites and their rental property, a wallet containing eftpos card and other important documents, were all in the van.
Watson said they had finished cleaning two sites on Quality St and were in the Rathbone St building between 5pm and 5.30pm on Thursday when their van was stolen.
“We were in there for about 20 minutes, came out and the van was gone. I saw on Facebook someone said they saw the van being driven on the wrong side of the road on John St a short time later.
“We rang the police, and waited for about 45 minutes but no one turned up. We then walked to the police station and found out it was closed. I pressed a buzzer and was told to come back the next morning and fill out a form.
“On the way to the police station, we saw a police car with lights flashing in the middle of the road and we thought ‘Let’s go and tell the officers’ but there was no one inside the car. Someone could have driven it away,” Watson said.
He managed to file a formal complaint on the police 105 non-emergency line the same evening. The hassle of changing locks and applying for replacement bank cards and driver’s licence took its toll on the couple. To make matters worse, the van wasn’t insured because they couldn’t afford to.
A police spokesperson said no arrests had been made and that available CCTV footage would be reviewed.
Anyone with information can contact police on 105 or www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report, referencing the file number 230512/0455.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Whangārei police station’s front counter is open to the public between 8am and 4pm on weekdays.
There is also a phone outside that people can use at any time, which will connect them directly to police.
If the event is an emergency and happening now, call 111.
To report things that have already happened and don’t need urgent police assistance, call 105 or report online.