Scooter reunited with 'extremely grateful' owner decade after being stolen

Police in Papakura have helped reunite a rider with his beloved scooter, 10 years after it was originally stolen.

Counties Manukau response manager Senior Sergeant Clive Wood said officers had located a young person riding a scooter, which had been reported stolen from a property in Whangārei a decade earlier.

He explained he had just recently bought it from Facebook Marketplace, Senior Sergeant Clive Wood said.

"They were quite upset after learning the scooter was stolen, so police assisted in tracking down the seller and negotiating regarding the money."

"Thankfully, the money was reimbursed."

Senior Sergeant Clive Wood said the registered owner had parked the scooter behind his friend's house in Whangārei and had forgotten about it.

By the time he realised it was stolen, it was too late.

"Our staff contacted the owner after locating the scooter, which came as a huge surprise to him given the length of time.

"When he picked it up from Papakura Police Station he was extremely grateful, and we were stoked to be able to return it to its rightful owner."