Sixty Jucy rental vehicles destined to help with restaurant deliveries under alert level 3 have been stolen from a secure storage facility near Auckland Airport.

It is believed the vehicles were stolen on Anzac Day, when staff who were normally at the site were given the day off.

Tim Alpe, chief executive of Jucy Group Limited, described the thefts as "particularly callous", given the impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry.

"It's not what we wanted given the pressure we are under."

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"We're facing significant challenges due to coronavirus, which has decimated the tourism industry and affected so many of our staff's livelihoods."

Due to Covid-19 and the nationwide lockdown, Jucy had put "a lot" of its vehicles into storage.

RYAN ANDERSON/STUFF Sixty Jucy rental vehicles were stolen in Auckland from a Māngere yard on Anzac Day.

Alpe said the thefts could not have come at a worst time and said the incident was "devastating" for the business.

Jucy has laid off 51 of the 332 staff running its rental and accommodation businesses in New Zealand, and most of the remainder were on reduced hours.

Police were investigating and a Jucy security advisor was also doing an internal investigation, Alpe said.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF Jucy co-owner Tim Alpe described the vehicle thefts as "particularly callous".

To date, 35 vehicles had been recovered, he said.

"We just want our vehicles back," he said, adding: "It sucks."

A Stuff reporter at the scene said four vehicles were parked up "like a barricade" in front of the yard's gate on Monday.

There was also a hole in the fence, large enough for a person to squeeze through.

Alpe had visited the yard, along with police on Monday, he said.

Inspector Matt Srhoj, Counties Manukau West Area Commander, said multiple arrests had been made, although inquiries were ongoing.

Police believed about 100 vehicles were stolen from a yard in Māngere over the weekend.

RYAN ANDERSON/STUFF A hole in the fence at Jucy's Māngere yard where sixty vehicles were stolen over the weekend.

"This cannot be confirmed until a full stocktake of all Jucy yards is complete."

About 20 vehicles were recovered in the Ōtara, Māngere and Papatoetoe areas.

Srjoh said there had been cases over the weekend where a suspicious vehicle had initially failed to stop for police and further inquiries had shown the vehicle was registered to Jucy.

The arrests made were in relation to failing to stop for police.

"This incident is an unfortunate reminder for rental vehicle companies to ensure they have good security measures and practices in place."

The stolen vehicles were Holden Captivas, Mazda 3s or Suzuki Swifts and are plain without branding, making them not easily identifiable as a Jucy rental vehicle from afar.

Anyone with information or who sees any suspicious vehicles which match the above descriptions is asked to contact Counties Manukau Police by phoning 105 and quoting file number 200426/2493.



Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111.