Owner’s heartbroken return of ‘my beloved van’
A Toyota Hiace van stolen at the beginning of Jesse Moss and Ellen Platfoot’s ‘‘trip of a lifetime’’ has been returned to the couple, but it has been a ‘‘heartbreaking’’ reunion.
Moss, originally of Australia, estimates it will cost about $5000 to repair the van, stolen while the pair were on an overnight tramp in the remote Hopkins Valley, near Lake O¯ hau, on November 18. He also estimates they have lost about $10,000 worth of gear including their friend’s tent.
‘‘My heart breaks seeing the state of my beloved van,’’ Moss said yesterday.
He said his van, named the Red Dragon, which he purchased in Auckland about two years ago, had been badly spraypainted after it was stolen, from its original red to black with white graffiti.
All the couple’s snowboarding gear, clothing, phone, laptops and sentimental keepsakes were missing from the van and half its kitchen had been gutted.
‘‘The left window was broken and taped up where he [the thief] must have got in, and the inside is all scratched. It’s not nice. There’s a lot of auto electrical stuff that needs doing and it needs new tyres,’’ Moss said.
Moss said it had been an ordeal becoming homeless and dealing with different police personnel and banks, instead of enjoying a trip of a lifetime.
The couple are now living in Wanaka with Moss working in a hardware store, while Platfoot has picked up some gardening work, but they hope to get back on the road again.
The van was only insured for covering the repair to another vehicle if involved in a crash.
‘‘Now I am faced with the project and financial bill of getting the Red Dragon back to its original state, so I can see the rest of what this amazing country has to offer.
‘‘I am seeking any local help out there from mechanics, panel beaters, auto electricians and carpenters who wish to help with the rebuild of the van,’’ Moss said.
A GoFundMe page set up to help the couple had raised $3195 by yesterday afternoon.
Lance Hibberd, 36, was arrested on December 29 and appeared in the Timaru District Council the following day on 21 burglary and theft charges. He was remanded in custody to reappear on January 19.