Whakatāne Campervan Theft Leaves Owner and Cat Trapped Inside During 20-Minute Ride

A Bay of Plenty man and his cat were taken on a frightening ride through Whakatāne after an alleged thief drove off in their campervan while they were asleep inside.

The incident began about 8.50pm on Wednesday near Seaview Road in Whakatāne, where police said a person unlawfully entered a camper parked out by the heads. What the alleged thief apparently did not expect was that the camper already had passengers in the rear sleeper section.

The owner woke after hearing activity at the front of the vehicle. He told the uninvited person to get out, but instead of leaving, the driver allegedly took off in the camper, with the man and his cat still inside.

As the camper headed east toward Ōhope, the man immediately called police. Units began closing in while a 111 call taker stayed on the line, keeping him calm and using his updates to guide responding officers on the ground.

Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Phil Gillbanks said the situation was dangerous and required a careful plan. According to the New Zealand Police release, the man’s welfare was the main concern because he was stuck in the back of a moving camper without a seatbelt or a secure passenger position.

“Our main concern was the welfare of the person in the back, and in cases like this, planning is everything. His wellbeing would have been front and centre of our officers’ minds as they looked at how to safely stop the vehicle,” Inspector Gillbanks said.

He also praised the coordination between the victim, the call taker, the dispatcher and police units responding to the incident. Officers monitored the camper from a distance rather than forcing an immediate stop, reducing the risk to the man and his cat while the vehicle continued moving.

Throughout the ordeal, the call taker kept speaking with the man and helped him find the safest possible place inside the camper. Because he did not have a seatbelt, he was advised to sit on the bed and hold onto the sink for stability.

“He didn’t have a seatbelt, so the call taker worked with him to find the most stable place to keep him safe. In this case, that meant he sat on the bed and held onto the sink. It’s not ideal, but it was the least worst choice available,” Inspector Gillbanks said.

The camper eventually came to a stop on Wainui Road, just before the State Highway 2 roundabout. Police believe the stop may have been caused by a mechanical issue linked to the alleged thief’s dangerous driving.

The driver was taken into custody about 9.10pm, roughly 20 minutes after the incident began. The man and his cat were both found unharmed.

A 28-year-old Whakatāne woman has been charged with failing to stop and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. She appeared in Whakatāne District Court on May 7 and was remanded in custody to reappear on June 10.

Inspector Gillbanks said the incident should remind campervan owners and travellers to secure their vehicles properly, even when someone is staying inside. New Zealand Police also advises the public not to pursue a vehicle they believe may be stolen, and to contact emergency services if it is being driven or if people may still be nearby, according to its stolen vehicle guidance.

“If there’s one piece of advice we can give people, it’s to make sure your vehicle is fully secure, regardless of whether you’re staying in it or not. But I want to acknowledge the victim for keeping a cool head through all of this – waking up to find your camper moving would be unsettling to say the least,” Inspector Gillbanks said.

The case has drawn attention across New Zealand because of its unusual and unsettling circumstances: a campervan allegedly taken while its owner was still asleep in the back, with his cat also caught up in the journey. What began as a quiet night parked in Whakatāne quickly became a moving emergency that ended safely only after police, dispatchers and the victim worked together to bring the camper to a stop.

Public reactions

New Zealand Proud wrote: “A real life nightmare! Thief steals camper van while the owner and cat asleep inside in the BOP 😮”

New Zealand Proud added: “Bay of Plenty resident had a rude wake-up this week, when his camper was stolen while he and his cat were asleep inside. Police say The incident began unfolding about 8.50pm on Wednesday, near Seaview Road in Whakatāne when a person unlawfully entered…”

Dennis Goodman commented: “Thank goodness the feral object that stole the campervan was caught. Good to know the owner and cat are ok.”

Alan Walker joked: “Police have charged the passenger(van owner) for not wearing a seat belt while in bed 😂 thief has walked free as she had a tuff childhood.”

Greg Davis wrote: “Lucky it wasn’t a hunter on holiday carrying a firearm in his camper. Would have got interesting for the thief 😁”

Myra Paltridge commented: “The camper “VAN” obviously was not locked good lesson learned people and did more moggie sleep through the whole episode?20 minutes later 👍😁😽”

Yvonne Noffke wrote: “If he was living in camper it should be Home Invasion”