Editorial: Whanganui boy whose bike stolen offered replacements

Jansen Pears had his new BMX bike stolen.

The new year has kicked off on a positive note for one Whanganui 11-year-old.

Offers of a new bike have come from across the country after Christmas joy turned to tears for Jansen Pears whose new BMX bike was stolen from the driveway of his family's Aramoho home.

Mum Wendy Coley said Jansen's dad bought him the bike for Christmas and it was the first bike he has had in five years.

On 2017's penultimate day, a thief went on to their property and took the distinctive Haro BMX bike from in front of their shed.

Not surprisingly Jansen was gutted.

But as 2018 dawned and news of the unfortunate theft hit the newswires humanity showed its decent side.

Several offers of a replacement bike have come from a variety of businesses and individuals from across the country including one from Paeroa.

That offer has been accepted and it is expected that late next week Jansen will be given a replacement bike courtesy of a kind donor.

Few details are known about the donor – or indeed the several others who offered to help – perhaps we may learn more in the coming days.

But what we do know is that decency is not dead, that we still live in a largely caring and compassionate society, despite the toe-rags who would make it otherwise.

Sure, victims of most crimes don't receive support in the same way and are more often than not left out of pocket and dealing with loss.

But this is the beginning of a new year and Jansen's story is worth celebrating because it reminds us of the good that exists, but which often gets overshadowed by the bad.