Waikato Police say two recent arrests in relation to a stolen trailer give a good insight into just how far your stolen goods can travel and just how important it is to record the details of your valuables.
Detective Sergeant Neville Ross of the Waikato Tactical Crime Unit said investigators are keen to speak to anyone who may be missing a tandem 'Kea' trailer.
"This trailer was recovered by our staff on the 15th of December from storage in Gordonton. The trailer had been used by thieves to steal a 1.6 tonne Ngano digger that was taken from the roadside at Rangiriri two days earlier.
"Our enquiries have revealed the trailer and digger were then on-sold to an Auckland man as a combo and this Aucklander had already made arrangements to on-sell it to an unsuspecting customer in Gordonton."
Mr Ross said while the rightful owners of the digger have been found but the same couldn't be said for the rather large trailer.
"The offenders had removed the registration plate as well as the manufacturer's identification plate. Speaking to the people at Kea trailers they advise the trailer is 6-8-years old and worth about $2000.
"A search of burglary and theft reports has so far failed to match any missing trailers to the one that we've recovered and its taking up a fair bit of room in the basement of the Police Station so we're pretty keen to track down its rightful owner."
Mr Ross said aside from ensuring valuable equipment is secured, owners of machinery, vehicles and other large items can protect their investments by etching or engraving them and then recording images and descriptions on secure databases such as the free service offered on the SNAP website, (www.snap.org.nz).
"That way only the owners know where the identifying details are and when we recover such items we can readily establish those in possession of them have them unlawfully and it saves Police time in tracking the rightful owner.
"As a result of our enquiries a 41-year-old Auckland man has been charged with receiving stolen goods while a Hamilton man of the same age is facing theft charges. One piece of advice Police have for prospective buyers is that if it seems too good to be true it probably is and you should ask yourself if you want to be buying items with out identity or registration plates."
Anyone who may think they are the rightful owner of the trailer is asked to contact Mr Ross at the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 858 6200.
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