Police are hunting four teenage girls who robbed a vulnerable amputee of his mobility scooter and $1400 in cash.
The girls, described by police as being in their mid to late teens, befriended the disabled 71-year-old Hamilton man for "several weeks'' before scamming him.
Waikato Police have since recovered his mobility scooter and the National Bank have reimbursed his bank account, but now he wants justice.
The pensioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "They set me up good and proper. It was a real jack-up.''
He said he first met one teenage girl who was "down on her luck'' and he helped her out, paying her small sums to carry out odd jobs round his small council flat in the Silverdale suburb of Hamilton.
The victim said: "She had been kicked out of home and had nowhere to go. I felt sorry for her. But then her mates started coming round and it was them, not her, that ripped me off.
"There is one real instigator who is behind it all. The other ones I feel sorry for, they are just having a hard time.
"But I'll be wary about helping anyone else in the future, that's for sure.''
The girls turned on the disabled man last Friday and stole his mode of transport, and his money.
One of the girls distracted him in the living room while two other girls sneaked through his open front door to steal his scooter.
He said: "One girl was playing games with me, spinning me round in my wheelchair. As she did it, she stole my eftpos card from my wallet.''
The girls had previously recorded his pin number by watching over his shoulder at a local shop checkout.
When he discovered the theft, he phoned police and cancelled his bank account - but not before around $1400 was taken.
The victim said: "They played on my goodwill and look where it got me.''
Heartway Mobility Scooters lent him a replacement scooter when they heard his tragic story. His original scooter has now been returned.
Mark Bacchus of Heartway Mobility Scooters: "I couldn't believe people would do this to such a vulnerable member of society. It makes you sick.''
A spokesman for Waikato Police confirmed an investigation has been launched.
He said: "Statements have been taken and we are making enquiries.
"People have been named and we have a couple of suspects to look at who live in close proximity to the victim.''
- APNZ
