His family has asked not to be identified.

The owner was alerted by a flatmate after the car was discovered missing, and the family said an online police report was lodged later that morning.

What followed left them stunned.

After the owner posted about the theft on a stolen vehicle Facebook page, members of the public began sending through information, including TikTok footage which the family believes shows people in possession of the stolen car. The footage was subsequently added to the police report.

Another person contacted the owner saying the vehicle had reportedly been seen turning off State Highway 1 towards Waikuku at about 8am on Tuesday.

The owner’s mother told chrislynchmedia.com the apparent willingness of those involved to show off the stolen vehicle online was deeply disturbing.

“To see the criminals bragging about what they have stolen is an outrageous rubbing of the violation that has occurred in our faces,” she said.

“To me, seeing the way they celebrate their crime on social media is more disturbing than the crime itself.”

She said the family was increasingly frustrated by the process of reporting the theft and the time it took before they heard directly from police.

“We have felt powerless waiting for a police response.”

She said the first hours after a vehicle theft were critical, and questioned a system which left victims relying on an online report while the car could be moved further away.

“It feels somewhat dangerous to feel the need to resort to doing public posts about the crime asking for public help in identifying these criminals.

“One does so bravely because, of course, these thieves know my son’s address.”

The family said police later called the owner at about 12.30am the following morning asking whether he knew his vehicle had been stolen, despite the online report having already been lodged and the TikTok footage added.

That contact only added to the family’s frustration. The car itself is highly distinctive.

The owner had spent considerable time and money working on the Toyota Chaser, including having custom engraved tail lights made overseas featuring fish and rose designs.

His mother said the vehicle was one of his most prized possessions and something he had worked hard to afford. “He is a quiet guy who likes cars and has saved hard since his after school jobs to buy his first car at 15,” she said.

“This was a car he would quietly work away on and tidy up for his own enjoyment.” She said the family was now deeply concerned about what the apparent social media posts suggested about the attitude of those responsible.

“In my opinion it screams loudly of how the system is so broken. It’s like they are declaring, ‘can’t catch me’.” She said the age of those involved should not diminish the seriousness of the offending.

“My concern is towards all the other people who will become victims of these criminals. I don’t care how young they may be. Their age is irrelevant to the crime committed.”

A police spokesperson told chrislynchmedia.com police had received a report of a car being stolen on Tuesday.

“The report is in the case assessment stage,” the spokesperson said.

The family said the TikTok footage and other information had been provided to police.