Two hitchhikers have had their luggage stolen by the driver of a car who gave them a lift.
The driver and passenger of a grey sedan picked up the tourists on State Highway 1 at Hamilton and dropped them at a rest area south of Cambridge yesterday afternoon.
But the car drove off before the tourists could retrieve their backpacks from the boot and the police say the hitchikers believe it was done intentionally.
Waikato Police Senior Sergeant Andrew Reilly said a disgusting act of dishonesty had affected the pair's travel plans.