Portable cabin theft hits one of community’s ‘most vulnerable’
Thieves have set a new benchmark in the Far North, stealing a Waitangi man’s home.
Eric Monk had been living in a 6x3m portacom, delivered under the Kaikohe-based Whakamanamai Wha¯ nau Trust’s ‘rent-to-bless’ scheme (Whare to the Whenua) for six months when it was taken from the Tahuna Rd papakainga development on Saturday night.
Whare to the Whenua director Rhonda Zielinski said the theft had been reported to the police, and she urged the public to report any sightings of the cabin. She is also offering a reward to anyone with information that leads to its recovery.
Zielinski said it was believed to be an “inside job” by two local men driving an old white campervan, which was seen towing the cabin. They must have used a winch to get it on to a boat trailer, she said.
“Someone rocked in with a vehicle and picked it up. It sucks, it’s bloody low, and it’s like everyone is saying, it’s an inside job. People just don’t rock up to someone’s house and load it on to a trailer,” she added.
The portable cabin was one of around 20 that had been delivered under the scheme as a practical solution to Northland’s growing homelessness problem. He had been living in it on wha¯nau land next to his sister, Sheree Tito, since October.
It was his first stable home following years spent in prison and living in caravan parks due to problems with mental illness and addiction. He was in jail again when it was stolen, and his sister was away for the weekend.
“He’d stopped taking his medication and became unwell and did something silly. When he comes out, he’ll have nowhere to go to,” Zielinski said. “This is someone who had to have help because they were struggling. What [the thieves] did was really low, stealing off someone like Eric. They’ve taken from the most vulnerable.”
The Whakamanamai Wha¯nau Trust, along with several other local organisations, have bought more than a dozen small homes from Auckland building company Space King over the last year. Others are on shortterm rent. They have been delivered to individuals and families mostly in and around Kaikohe, but also in Kaitaia, Gisborne and Whanganui.
Monk’s portacom is still owned by Space King, and was being rented to him via the trust.
Company owner Victor Smith said he was “devastated and a bit shocked” at the theft, Zielinski adding that until a couple of months ago Monk had been “doing fabulous”, and never missed a payment.
A police spokesperson said strong lines of inquiry were being followed.