Havelock North thefts may be linked

Police are investigating possible links between the theft of a horse truck and another burglary, including the theft of a gun during the weekend.

The thefts happened in and around Havelock North on Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Taken from a building site in Middle Rd, Havelock North, the eight-tonne truck, a white Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter with a white and green horse box and carrying the name RN and AM Lee on the driver's door, was found yesterday afternoon in Flaxmere.

Police issued public appeals for information on the whereabouts of the truck late yesterday morning, and the theft quickly became a hot topic on social media.

Senior Sergeant David Sutherland, of police Eastern District command centre, Napier, said the truck had been returned largely undamaged to its owners. He thanked members of the public for information about the truck.

Police, who had by last night made no arrests, are seeking information about suspicious activity around the building site, the movements of the truck, and also tools which are missing from the building site.

Police believe the burglary could be linked to another incident which happened in rural Hawke's Bay and which involved the theft of two farm bikes and a gun.

Meanwhile, police in Wairoa are investigating an increase in the number of thefts from vehicles in the town. They said several incidents had taken place over recent weekends, targeting wallets and cellphones in vehicles parked on private property at night.