The ute. Photo: Supplied
When Sharyn's ute was stolen from the rural outskirts of Hamilton her whole community jumped in to try and help find it. Everyone, she said, except the police.
The ute was her husband's. He died two years ago and the ute was precious to 75-year-old Sharyn as a reminder of him and their 40-plus years together.
"His hands were so rough that he's made grooves in the steering wheel. You could just feel him," she said.
Her husband had always been generous in sharing the ute with neighbours in need.
"He would lend his ute to anybody who wanted it. Neighbours all around this area used it for various things like carting water, just generally borrowing it. My children all use it for various things, taking firewood and shifting sheep from place to place."
So, when it was stolen from the street outside her son's house, everyone jumped into action - asking for sightings of it on online community forums, along with reporting it to the police.
Quite quickly her family got a response from the community. It was a photo of two utes at a property in Hamilton - one was her ute, and the other had also been reported stolen.
Two utes at a property in Hamilton - Sharyn's, and another which had also been reported stolen Photo: Supplied
Sharyn said she rang the police to tell them about the sighting, and also went into the Hamilton Central Police Station to speak with them and show them the photo.
Though the utes were no longer at that property, she expected police to at least knock on the door and ask some questions. She said police told her they would not be doing that.
After RNZ inquiries into the case, police rung Sharyn late on Friday morning to talk about the evidence she had and how it could be useful.
Sharyn said she was frustrated and distraught by the theft and now unable to sleep.
"I just want the ute back. I mean, I've offered money for it, I've offered to buy it back."
She said she now sits for hours in her car waiting to see if she will see the ute near where it was photographed after it was stolen.
"I can burst into tears right now thinking about it. You know, it's just... I'm really really really unhappy."
The ute. Photo: Supplied
RNZ asked police about the case. In a statement, they confirmed they had received a report of the ute having been stolen and received further information suggesting the ute was on a Collins Road property.
"The initial report, and the subsequent further information, continue to be assessed and the file remains open," police said.
Asked why no action had been taken on the evidence Sharyn provided, police said they required a number of specific circumstances and evidence in order to progress enquiries.
"Not following specific legal protocol can impact a potential prosecution."
At an event on Friday, RNZ asked Police Minister Mark Mitchell about Sharyn's case. He said he would not talk about it specifically, but said a massive increase in crime over the last few years had put pressure on the police.
"They will get to it, and generally speaking they provide an outstanding service to the members of the public when they put their hand up for help," he said.
Mitchell acknowledged Sharyn's situation must be very difficult and stressful, especially with the emotional ties to the vehicle.
"I'd say with great confidence that if she was to raise this with the police and said she was concerned about the response, they would respond to that, they will get back to her."
Earlier, Sharyn said she did not know what it would take to get police to care about her situation.
"I've thought in my head of so many scenarios. I said, 'What if I say call 111 and say right, I'm going down to talk to these people. So if you find my body on the ground, you'll know who did it,' and whether they would come."
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