Thieves strip boy's bike
19.10.2006
By BELINDA FEEK
RIA KEPA was on top of the world two weeks ago when his parents bought him a brand new motorbike.
After six days of riding the 2007 Honda CRF80 around the backyard, his dad, Andre, thought it was time for him to try out some decent turf – the Morgan St end of Castlecliff Beach.
However, it soon turned sour as four young men in an old white Toyota hatchback hurtled towards Ria.
“He got scared and fell off, then one of the guys grabbed the bike, kick-started it and took off,” Mr Kepa said.
The other three men jumped back in the car to drive off. However, the car had other ideas and stalled, with the battery falling out.
This enabled Mr Kepa to run and catch one of the guys, who had run off.
Although the bike was later found by police in Braves Park, Gonville, it had been stripped of all its plastics and left scratched and twisted.
The motorbike, once worth $3500, was left looking like $50. Mr Kepa was grateful to Dowman Keown Honda, who fixed the bike to make it “rideable”, but was still keen to find out where the stolen parts were.
Ria said he was devastated after the theft, but was pleased to be riding the machine again.
Wanganui police are investigating.
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