Kung fu hustle as thief flees on bike

A thief in Nelson chose the wrong place to break into a car and ended up fleeing from 110 uniformed martial arts experts, in town for Chan's Martial Arts School's annual training camp.

Christchurch black belt Rob Wilson said he was looking through a frosted window of the Trafalgar Centre on Friday night when he spotted the thief smashing a car window and jumping into the vehicle.

Along with Wellington double black tip Sam Newble, the pair ran around the side of the building as the rest of the training camp, which included 30 black belts, poured out of the doors in pursuit of the hooded thief, who took off on a mountain bike.

"He was picking up speed and our little legs were going as fast as they could,'' Mr Wilson said.

The thief got away with a cellphone and two jackets, which belonged to Invercargill green belt John Wilson, who had driven to Nelson for the camp.

Senior Constable Phil Wylie of Nelson police said this morning there had been no arrest over the theft.

Nelson and Blenheim chief instructor Peter Rasmussen said Friday night's incident was the only glitch in an otherwise "good weekend overall''.

It was the first time the annual camp had been held in Nelson, which has had a martial arts school in this style for only two years, and has 15 members.

"It's a big thing for Nelson,'' he said.

He said the camp was an opportunity for the school to get together with students from across the country, as well as one from the United States.

- © Fairfax NZ News