The bodies of two young children found stuffed inside suitcases were likely there for years, cops have admitted before an unsuspecting family bought the luggage at an abandoned storage unit auction.

A family from Manurewa, in Auckland, New Zealand, bid in an auction on August 11 and won the unit's contents before making the shocking discovery that human remains were inside.

• Human remains were found inside suitcases bought in a storage unit auction
• Family from south Auckland made a discovery when going through contents 
• Bodies of two children aged between five and ten were found in suitcases
• Police believe the bodies may have been there for three or four years 

Both suitcases were of similar size. 

Forensic police remove a hire trailer used to cart the storage unit's contents (pictured)

The family who bought the items from the storage unit is not involved in any way. 

The family had bid on the contents of the storage locker online, a common practice for storage sheds with unpaid rent, which was even turned into a popular US reality TV show, Storage Wars. 

Buyers are not allowed to rifle through the contents in depth before the auction and must bid blindly on the unit.

When they win the auction, they are then allowed to properly look through the unit.

A family from Manurewa, in south Auckland, bid in an auction on August 11 and won the unit's contents before making the shocking discovery human remains were inside

In the case of the Kiwi family, it was when they brought the suitcases home that they made the chilling discovery. 

Inspector Vaaelua said CCTV would be analyzed but admitted police were in for a challenge, given the length of time the bodies were stored for.

He confirmed there were relatives of the victims living in New Zealand but the children are yet to be formally identified.

Insp Vaaelua said he understood the update on the incident was 'deeply upsetting' to the community. 

'We're still on a fact-finding mission and we still have a lot of unanswered questions,' he told reporters on Thursday afternoon. 

'I really for the family of these victims, there are relatives out there that aren't aware that their loved ones are deceased, especially two young children.'

Insp Vaaelua said the investigation had been challenging for police-involved given the young age of the victims.

Household and personal items were also found with the suitcases. 

A homicide investigation is ongoing and NZ police are working with the international criminal police agency Interpol.

Detectives and forensic teams swarmed the house of the family who unwittingly purchased the contents at an auction (pictured)

A trailer that carried the suitcases also had 'prams, toys, and a walker' in the back, a neighbor of the property in Clendon Park told the New Zealand Herald. 

'I feel sorry for the family because they've got nothing to do with it,' one neighbor, Shelton Honana, told Newshub.  

'Whoever did do it ... front up. It's a bit unfair, bro. It's horrific, f***ing scary,' he added.

Witnesses reported seeing three different hearses outside the house last Thursday night after authorities were called in by the shaken buyers. 

The large hire trailer used to transport the haul was also taken from the house by investigators.

Counseling is being offered to the family while a large blue tent was set up at the property.

References:

dailymail.co.uk