Joey Livestock/delivered
All that was left behind when a car belonging to the band Melodika was broken into.
A Waikato band has lost $60,000 in belongings after parking in a Wilson Parking building in Auckland.
Members of Melodika, who sing original Filipino music, were stunned when they returned from an event with the Philippine ambassador to see their car broken into.
The car contained all the luggage they had brought to Auckland.
They left town the next day with “nothing but a handbag,” said band manager Joey Vee.
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The band had parked in the Kitchener St. parking lot for four hours. The plan was to move from their event, held in the CBD, to Henderson, where their hotel and venue for their upcoming performance was located — and so the car contained so many valuables.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Things
Joey Vee says she’s now scared to park in Auckland’s CBD.
When they returned to the parking lot, the car door was open and the window smashed.
“When we opened the car door, everything was gone,” said Vee.
The stolen items include three bags containing luggage, shoes, makeup, two laptops, jewelry, headphones and cameras.
They were worth about $60,000, Vee said.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Things
Sam Atutahi, right, was shocked to find that all his belongings had been stolen. He performed without his costumes later that night.
“We specifically parked at Wilson Parking because we thought the CCTV cameras made the property safe.
“After this incident, I don’t believe there is a difference between parking on the street and parking in a Wilson parking lot.”
Band members had to perform underdressed later that night and one member, Sam Atutahi, took the stage with nothing but the clothes he was wearing.
“It was terrible. It was a big event and I went in there underdressed. We went back to Waikato with nothing,” said Atutahi, a singer and guitarist.
MARK TAYLOR / STUFF
Joey Vee encouraged her Kiwi partner Sam Atutahi to live with his grandmother Diane Atutahi the Filipino way
In a statement, Wilson said it has taken “all reasonable steps” to prevent theft from cars in its parks.
“These measures include CCTV, security patrols and visible signage in parking lots encouraging customers not to leave valuables behind. But we cannot rule out theft, so it is important that customers do not leave valuables unattended.”
A police spokesperson said the incident is under investigation.
“At this stage, the case has been filed, pending further investigation, but the police are open to further investigation if new information comes to light.
“If anyone has information about this incident, they are asked to contact police at 105, quoting file number 220625/6314.”