Hastings: Crane truck stolen from business, rammed through gates

The truck was taken from Honnor Drilling Ltd in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

A crane truck which was stolen from a Hastings drilling business and rammed through a set of gates has been recovered by police.

The offenders broke into Honnor Drilling Ltd on Omahu Rd in Hastings early on Friday, before allegedly stealing a crane truck and driving through the gates at the front of the business.

A police spokesperson said the heavy motor vehicle was seen driving erratically about 6.30am on Friday on State Highway 2, which stretches south from Hastings towards Waipukurau.

“The vehicle was signalled to stop but it fled and was located a short time later, abandoned on Te Aute Trust Rd, Poukawa.

“The offender or offenders fled on foot [and] police inquiries are ongoing to locate them.”

Honnor Drilling Ltd health and safety co-ordinator Bryn Shaw said he was the first worker on site around 6.30am and found the gates busted.

“I think they must have broken in [then] driven the crane truck through the gates.”

He said police contacted the business asking whether one of their employees was driving the truck, as it was seen driving erratically.

Shaw said he was pleased the police managed to locate it quickly and recover it.

“It is now back at our yard,” he said, adding it only appeared to have suffered minor damage.

He said they were assessing the premises on Friday morning to check if anything else had been stolen.

Shaw said he had been at the business for two years and had not experienced any other break-ins during that time.