Nurse recounts car theft
Thieves hijacked a young nurse’s car moments after she was caught up in a fender bender.
The actions left the 21-year-old Hamilton newcomer shocked and teary on the roadside in Hamilton East on Monday – with no ride to clock in for her shift at Waikato Hospital.
Police would later spot the stolen Legnum and chase it to Lake Rotoroa where the culprits scarpered.
The woman, who spoke to Stuff but didn’t want her name used, was on her way to work at Waikato Hospital around 2pm on Monday when she was involved in a minor crash on Grey St.
‘‘I was going through a green light and another driver rearended my car,’’ she said yesterday.
The woman kept going until she could pull over on the pathway further along Grey St – not far from House of Travel. The other driver also stopped on nearby Clyde St where the pair began exchanging details on the crash.
‘‘I was pretty shaken up,’’ she recalled. ‘‘I was planning on leaving again really soon, to get to work. The car had a dent in the back but was still driveable.’’ Amid the drama, she left her keys in the ignition along with her work bag and dinner. She thought she’d be gone momentarily. But as she walked a few metres to the corner to take down the woman’s number plate, thieves pounced.
‘‘She’d gone back to her car around the corner – and a guy helping me suggested I get the number plate. I walked around the corner, came back and the car was gone. I couldn’t believe it.’’
Confusion came first. Then shock. It was hard to fathom that someone would steal her car within seconds.
‘‘I just didn’t expect it at all – I was at the car the whole time. I did a double take, and thought surely not.’’ But the car was gone. And with it her wallet.
‘‘There were a few tears. The guy who was a witness to the crash said he thought it had been stolen.’’
After calling her flatmate for a ride, the woman went to nearby Hamilton police station, a minute’s drive away, where she reported the theft to police. At the same time a call went out on the police radio, alerting officers to a stolen dark coloured Legnum. Police officers spotted the stolen car about 3pm near Lake Domain Drive.
A short police pursuit followed but was called off after officers became concerned at how the stolen car was being driven, Hamilton police Senior Sergeant William Loughrin said earlier.
‘‘It wasn’t high speed but due to the time of day and the amount of public around, we carried out an assessment and at that point we abandoned the pursuit,’’ Loughrin said.
The stolen vehicle was later found dumped near the lake. A police dog was brought in but was unable to find the offenders.
Yesterday the woman had her car back with minor damage to the rear bumper and to the right side of the wheel. Her bag remained in the car but it appeared the thieves had rifled through it and stolen her wallet. The young nurse moved from Taranaki to Hamilton three months ago.
‘‘Everyone has been so lovely. I have even been given flowers, so positive, it’s just not what you expect.’’
If anyone saw anything suspicious around the Hamilton Lake area on the southern side on Monday call Hamilton police on 07 858 6200.
‘‘I just didn’t expect it atall–I was at the car the whole time. I did a double take, and thought surely not.’’