Forget the Grinch, this season there are thieves who've stolen Christmas.
Police are investigating after two courier vans and more than 200 parcels were stolen in Hamilton and Tauranga.
Wedding bells are ringing for Tayla Welch. Everything was ready, she was just waiting on one final thing - her dress, handmade by a close friend.
"She had handcrafted this beautiful piece for me, sent it in the mail in plenty of time to spare," Welch said.
"I noticed something was wrong, and soon found out that my package didn't arrive because it was stolen, the courier van was stolen."
Police has confirmed an NZ Post van was stolen from outside a business on Hamilton's River Rd last Friday while the driver was delivering a package.
The van was recovered two days later, but it was empty. Not a single one of the 170 parcels have been found.
"NZ Post is extremely upset to learn of these thefts as our couriers have been working hard to get parcels delivered to Kiwis in what is the busiest time of the year," a statement from the company read.
Welch says she was "really upset".
"I know there are bigger things in the world but it was the one thing I had planned," she said.
By the time Welch discovered her dress was gone, it was just days until the wedding.
Fortunately the designer was able to drop everything and whip up a second outfit, which has now been hand delivered to the bride-to-be by her parents to avoid another disaster.
"[I'm] so relieved it's in my hands - can't get lost now, can't get stolen now," she said.
It's the second NZ Post van that has been stolen this Christmas season. Another van was stolen from Tauranga on December 9 along with 50 parcels.
Police are still working to identify those responsible, but a 29-year-old man is due in court next week in relation to the theft of the Hamilton van.
