Sharp eyes lead tojet-boat's return

''Pure chance'' led to the recovery of a stolen jet-boat that has huge sentimental value for a North Otago family.

The 1989 Hamilton 152 jet-boat was customised to Livingstone farmer David Douglas' design when he bought it new and was unique. It was stolen from behind the Kurow garage between 7pm and 8pm on October 30.

Mr Douglas thought it was certain to have been taken outside the district and was lost forever.

An appeal to find it was issued by Kurow Constable Craig Bennett on Monday after further information came from investigations, including the possible make and model of the car that could have towed it away.

On Tuesday, the Otago Daily Times published that, along with a photograph of the boat.

A woman who was at a house in Kakanui saw the photograph then spotted the jet-boat illegally on the Kakanui River above the 5-knot limit on Tuesday.

''It was pure chance. I usually don't read the paper until lunchtime, but that day I read it in the morning,'' she said.

About 20 minutes later, she heard the jet-boat and when she looked, thought it was the same as the one in the photograph, even though an attempt had been made to change its appearance.

Constable Bennett said the woman phoned it in and police were sent from Oamaru to the Kakanui boat ramp, where they found three men with the boat. They were now assisting police with their inquiries.

The jet-boat had been heard on the river the week before as well.

''Minor damage'' had been caused to the boat in an attempt to disguise it but, using new technology now available through the police-issue iPhones, it was able to be identified.

Oamaru police used real-time video to send images of the boat to Const Bennett and the Kurow mechanic who had serviced it since 1989.

''We could clearly see unique identifying features,'' Const Bennett said.

For example, the dashboard, engine cover, vinyl trim, seating configuration, windscreen and other features differed from the standard model.

That was confirmed when the two men travelled to Oamaru and found the serial number for the hull, which identified the boat as belonging to Mr Douglas. Const Bennett said Mr Douglas was ecstatic when the boat was returned to him on Tuesday.

''He designed it himself, had it specially made and owned it since new, so it has a lot of family history and enjoyable times,'' he said.

To replace the boat today would cost about $65,000.

david.bruce@odt.co.nz

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