The search for a white ute believed to be involved in the theft of a treasured solid bronze bell last year has come up empty and police are now closing the case.
By Torika Tokalau of Local Democracy Reporting
The Peace Bell, a symbol of friendship between New Zealand and Japan, was stolen from the Japanese Garden beside the Henderson Civic Building in Auckland last November.
The bell, which weighs about one tonne, had been taken overnight on November 10.
According to Auckland Council, great effort was taken to steal the bell, which appeared to have been cut off and removed using heavy machinery.
Waitematā West Police Sergeant Juls Conder said police had exhausted all available lines of inquiry.
The case was closed, pending further information.
Conder said police had sought all available CCTV footage in the immediate area in Henderson.
"A white-coloured ute was captured entering a car park at around 1.46am," Conder said.
"Unfortunately, the vehicle was unable to be identified and was seen leaving the area at 1.51am."
He said other footage did not yield any further lines of inquiry. Police also asked scrap metal dealers about the bell.
The bell was a gift from the Japanese city of Kakogawa to former mayor Bob Harvey in 1997 following the signing of a friendship agreement between Waitākere City and Kakogawa in 1991.
Conder said for now, police would assess any further information that came in, for any appropriate additional steps.
Waitākere Ward councillor Shane Henderson said the theft of the bell was shocking and devastating to a lot of people.
"It’s actually quite serious, I’m lost for words ... how you can steal a one-tonne peace bell and it just vanishes?” Henderson said.
"It must turn up in a scrap yard or something, and I don’t think these thieves who are so irresponsible really understand the importance of it, and its place within the history of West Auckland, and our relationship with our sister city of Kakogawa."
He said the bell was a community asset that was much loved by many over the years.
"What kind of mentality do you have to steal something like this... they steal it presumably for scrap or something."
Henderson and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown both contacted the Japanese consulate after the theft to express their disappointment.
"It’s especially disgusting because there seems to be some pre-planning involved, you don’t just walk up to it and decide to steal it... it’s maddening."
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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