Hire price too steep so tourist kept bikes

Daniel Buchs had offered to apologise to the two bike rental companies in person. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Swiss tourist stole two high priced mountain bikes because he believed the cost of renting a bicycle short term was too expensive.

Daniel Buchs, 23, appeared for sentencing in Rotorua District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to theft of a $5000 Yeti 575 full suspension from Outdoorsman Headquarters on January 29, and a $2000 Avanti Aggressor hard tail from Planet Bike on February 8.

Lawyer Greg Burt told the court Buchs considered bike rental charges were expensive and instead decided to keep them for a longer term than the rental period allowed before he returned them.

Staff at both outlets agreed to allow him to pay for the rental when he returned the bikes to their shops the same day.

The Avanti was found in Whakarewarewa Forest with both wheels missing.

The Yeti was recovered when Buchs was seen putting it into his car at a mountain bike event in the forest last weekend.

Police were not seeking reparation.

Buchs, a carpenter, was due to leave New Zealand next week and would not be served a deportation order, Mr Burt said.

Buchs had offered to apologise to the two bike rental companies in person, he said.

In sentencing Judge Chris McGuire said it was the first time in 16 years on the bench in Rotorua he had come across "a case like this".

He fined Buchs $250 on each charge, plus $150 court costs.