Two children, believed to be just 6 and 10 years old, broke into a Rotorua vehicle dealership, smashing through a glass door to steal two dirt bikes. The shocking theft was captured on CCTV at Autohaus Rotorua on Lake Rd, where the young thieves were seen scoping out the premises before using a piece of timber to break through the front door, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The footage shows the children struggling to handle the bikes' weight before eventually riding off, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Despite the damage, the culprits remain at large.
This incident is part of a broader trend, with four break-ins reported at three Rotorua motorbike stores over the past two weeks as dirt bikes become increasingly targeted by thieves. While police suspect adults are responsible for the other break-ins, this particular theft highlights the alarming involvement of children.
Rotorua police have noted a surge in motorbike store burglaries and antisocial riding around the city, linking the crimes to organized criminal gangs. Recently, 11 thieves in three vehicles made off with dirt bikes worth $40,000 from a local dealership, adding to the city's growing crime wave.
Autohaus Rotorua Targeted Twice
Michael Meyer, the principal of Autohaus Rotorua, described how two young children targeted the dealership on July 28. The kids first threw rocks at the building, damaged vehicle wing mirrors, and stole mail from a lockbox before breaking into the showroom.
Inside, they stole two Forza dirt bikes valued at $4,000. The younger child initially attempted to steal a children’s 4x4 bike but abandoned it when it wouldn't start. Despite the store’s alarm blaring, the children appeared unfazed, with one even urging the other to hurry as they made their escape.
The damage caused during the break-in far exceeded the value of the stolen items, Meyer said. "It’s the damage they cause that far outweighs anything." The stolen pink bike was later recovered in a nearby car park.
Less than a week later, on August 3, Autohaus Rotorua was hit again. This time, four adults in a white double-cab ute broke in, smashing a bottle jack through the showroom window. They made off with three dirt bikes valued at $6,000, including the same pink bike that had been stolen and recovered days earlier. The pink bike fell off the back of the ute during the getaway, suffering extensive damage.
The repeated break-ins have led Meyer to make the difficult decision to stop stocking dirt bikes at the dealership. Although they will continue to order bikes for customers and service them, the risks and costs of keeping them in the store are no longer worth it.
Patterson O’Connor Motorcycles Also Targeted
Another Rotorua store, Patterson O’Connor Motorcycles, fell victim to thieves around 1 am on August 8, losing four bikes valued at $40,000. Owner Bryan Patterson said the business had previously been targeted by ram raids, prompting them to install bollards. However, in this latest incident, the thieves smashed through the front windows.
Patterson noted that the thieves likely cased the store beforehand, pretending to shop for cheap parts before returning to steal the bikes. Despite quick police response, the last rider managed to escape with the stolen bike.
Patterson expressed frustration with the situation, noting that the insurance excess is now $20,000, making it unlikely that filing a claim would be worthwhile. "We’re getting hit by these idiots, and no one can do anything," he said. "It makes you wonder, why are you in business? We are absolutely over it."
Police Response
Rotorua police area prevention manager, Inspector Phil Gillbanks, confirmed that one man had been arrested and five motorbikes had been seized as investigations continue into the bike store burglaries and related antisocial riding. However, no one has yet been charged in connection with the two break-ins at Autohaus Rotorua or the recent burglary at Patterson O’Connor Motorcycles.
Gillbanks acknowledged a rise in antisocial dirt bike riding following the recent spate of burglaries, with police believing that organized criminal gangs are behind the crimes.
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