A Queenstown helicopter company's van has been swiped in a mix-up involving four holidaying Australians.
Sergeant Steve Watt said this morning that the white 2015 Hyundai light van was stolen from outside Heli Tours office in Sir Henry Wigley Drive, Frankton at 3.30pm yesterday.
The van, registration JHF956, had the keys in it and the words Heli Tours emblazoned on the side.
But less than an hour later, Sgt Watt said a rental company had hired a van to four Australians yesterday and their vehicle was still on-site.
Sgt Watt said police were trying to reach the van-hiring Australians.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, two men stole a bag from a room at the YHA hostel on Shotover St.
Sgt Watt said the bag was later recovered but some items were taken.
On social media, the police said of the pair: "They are on video walking down the corridor trying door handles. It seems they took two coats and a bag.
"Strangely they later left the bag outside the front of the YHA. It had been ripped open and a knife that didn't belong to the victim was in a red bag, inside the victim's bag.''
Police are calling for information about the two men involved.
• A 44-year-old Queenstown man is likely to be issued with a written traffic warning after a three-car crash on Frankton Rd, near Yewlett Cres, yesterday morning.
Sgt Watt says the man, who was driving a Ford Ranger, glanced away and when he looked back realised the cars in front of him had stopped.
He slammed on his brakes but couldn't stop in time, hitting the car in front and shunting it into the next car.
No one was injured - there was minor damage to two vehicles but the middle vehicle was moderately damaged.
Sgt Watt said: "I think they're looking at potentially a written traffic warning for careless driving in this instance.''
• A 30-year-old United States man has been banned from driving for 28-days after allegedly driving while drunk.
Sgt Watt said the man's rental car was pulled over for a random stop at 12.05am this morning on Church St, and he had a breath-alcohol level of 653mcg.
