A Paihia family is appealing for help in tracking down a would-be thief who smashed a corner of their house, wrecked a trailer and left a prized boat stuck on a retaining wall.
James Ruscoe works in Auckland but keeps his boat, a 5.3m Haines Signature runabout, at his mum's place in Paihia.
He keeps the trailer padlocked and clamped, and parks it close to the house to make it hard to get out.
A tenant heard a noise about 2.45pm on Monday but didn't think much of it. It was only later, about 3.30pm, that the tenant and Ruscoe's mum discovered someone had attempted a brazen, daylight theft.
![James Ruscoe's boat was abandoned when the would-be thief got the trailer stuck with one wheel over a retaining wall. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/NEP334IJ6LIVCCIJUIOSHIUEXA.jpg?auth=6ee98a909d8ae65b820b5f0325ec0e074e19249030609884cf126dd2cbde0976&width=16&height=23&quality=70&smart=true)