Stolen kayak returned thanks to Facebook
Angela Cosgrove believes she has social media and the Papamoa community to thank for the safe return of her stolen kayak.
Papamoa East resident Angela Cosgrove had the power of social media to thank when her stolen Ocean Scrambler 11 kayak was returned to her.
The kayak, valued at $1000, was stolen one month ago as she and her 7-year-old son slept in their home.
Cosgrove had planned to use the kayak the following morning, so she left it on her car, which was parked on her front lawn.
“The kayak was tied down which they [the thieves] had cut with a knife. It was secured to the car with a bike lock so they must have used bolt cutters to cut that off,” Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove puts the success in retrieving the kayak down to social media.
After she shared it on her Facebook page and the Papamoa Community Page, almost 550 people also shared the link.
Her Facebook plea was shared by members from the Bay of Plenty community, fishing clubs, local radio stations, SunLive and the Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard.
“Ninety-two people shared it from my page, and 451 shared it from the Papamoa Community Page,” said Angela.
She suspects 25,000 locals would have viewed the link too.
Two and a half weeks later the kayak was discovered for sale on Trade Me, with a pricetag of $450.
A string from a pirate patch Angela attached to the kayak was still hanging from the front.
“That’s when I knew it was mine – who else would have that on their kayak?” she said.
“The police were helpful…although they didn’t come out to the property once during the time the kayak was missing.”
Angela believes social media played a bigger role. It reaffirmed how she lived in a supportive community, despite the thefts.
“People from the Papamoa community offered to lend me their kayaks, it was really nice.”
Creator of the Papamoa Community page, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, said the page had become the Papamoa village centre.
She says the page always gets a massive response from burglary related posts.
“This is not who we are. We don’t want burglaries.
“So everyone wants to do their bit to make their community a great place, and a safe place, to live.”
Three men will appear in court on April 17 following the incident.
