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A central Auckland resident has had a nasty pre-Christmas surprise after up to $10,000 worth of tools were stolen during a brazen early morning burglary.

Grey Lynn resident Hamish told the Herald two burglars decided to walk on to his property on Selbourne St around 2am on Sunday.

“They just casually walked down the side of my house to the back where, underneath my house, I have a lockup for my tools,” he said.

Security camera footage showed the pair walking down the side of his house, and carrying away the tools.

The lockup had a hatch with a bolt behind a door, Hamish said.

“It would be very hard to find.

“I’ve run through it in my head and talked to my mates about it, and just because they hit the property above, I don’t think it was targeted at me.

“I think they hit the jackpot with what they found at mine.”

He said the offenders took hedge trimmers, mechanics’ tools, a grinder, drills and three socket sets.

“The total bill for the insurance company is probably going to be close to 10 grand,” he said.

Security footage captures a Grey Lynn resident's tools stolen during a morning robbery.

Material items and tools can be replaced, but Hamish is most concerned by how this break-in has affected his children.

“Trauma to kids and kids not feeling safe in their own house is what upsets me the most,” he said.

“Both the kids were afraid and we had to have that conversation which as a parent you don’t really want to have.

“As far as the stuff that has gone, yeah it’s a hassle. But it’s replaceable. But little kids’ memories aren’t.”

A police spokesperson said several items were taken from the Selbourne St address early on Sunday morning.

“We’re making inquiries.”

David Williams is an Auckland-based multimedia journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.