A woman who lay semi-conscious and bleeding following a South Auckland car accident has allegedly been robbed of her wallet and iPhone by "true scum" while being cut out of her vehicle by paramedics.
The 39-year-old woman concerned, Shevaughn Johnstone, was involved in a serious head-on car accident with a truck on Cosgrave Rd in the Auckland suburb of Papakura North at 1;15pm on November 2.
Her partner Murray Howell has taken to Facebook to publicise what he describes as a "horrible incident" in the aftermath of the crash, in which Ms Johnstone was robbed by three people while seriously injured and trapped in her vehicle.
The three alleged thieves then went of a spending spree with Ms Johnstone's credit card "spending her money before she even made it to the hospital!!!!!", Mr Howell wrote in his Facebook post.
"This I find to be something that is totally beyond belief. We are on a very busy road at a MAJOR accident and even with her bleeding out and semiconscious this piece of trash thinks its ok to RIP HER OFF!"
Counties Manukau Police Inspector Tony Wakelin confirmed that the theft of Ms Johnstone's belongings did occur and police are following strong lines of enquiry.
"It has been subsequently established that whilst she was receiving medical attention a person or persons has removed her wallet and phone from her car," Inspector Tony Wakelin said in a statement.
"A credit card from the wallet was fraudulently used on eight occasions later that day.
"This was a very callous act. The offenders actions by preying on someone who was involved in a serious crash has only added to her trauma."
Mr Murray said Ms Johnstone was in a "very serious condition with major damage to her right arm" while paramedics were trying to free her from her crushed vehicle.
During this rescue, the three alleged thieves, two men and one woman, took their opportunity to go thorough Ms Johnstone's hand bag and steal her iPhone 6 and her wallet, Mr Howell wrote.
The three individuals then allegedly left the scene as the police arrived, traveling south down Cosgrave Rd, in a Silver Subaru Legacy.
Emptying the wallet and taking Ms Johnstone's credit card and cash, they then went to Kingsway Z service station, making their first Pay Wave purchase for $23.90 in order to test that card, Mr Howell said.
The alleged thieves discarded the iPhone and then went on a spending spree, emptying Ms Johnstone's credit card of all its funds.
Mr Howell took to Facebook to relay the story yesterday in the hope of finding the individuals he says are responsible for the theft.
Mr Howell said when he found Ms Johnstone's iPhone in a hedge next to the Kingsway Z service station it had one per cent battery and over 50 missed calls.
"Some 30 from me over the period of 1:30 - 3:00pm trying to locate Shevaughn as I was sitting at Middlemore myself waiting on her as she was heading to pick me up!," Mr Howell wrote.
"So you piece of shit it would have been constantly ringing in your hand, each time showing a photo of myself and my daughter … you heartless piece of crap!
"If I had lost that phone and lost Shevaughn that day you would have stolen more from us that you ever could ever comprehend – The sentimental value of the messages, photos to us are priceless and you took them from her when your human instinct if you had any should have been one of help – How can you justify such an action!
"So I am reaching out to anyone willing to share and assist me in bringing these guys to answer for what they have done."
Mr Howell said Ms Johnstone is recovering in hospital, but has appealed to the public to help find the culprits, posting footage of what he says is one of the thieves making their first purchase in the Z service station.
Police are asking anyone with information, or knowledge of the man in the CCTV footage, to contact Papakura Police on 09 2950200, or anonymously on Crime stoppers 0800 555 111.
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