Farm bike theft prompts warning to rural residents

Police want rural Northland residents to ensure their sheds are locked and property secured.

Police want rural Northland residents to ensure their sheds are locked and property secured after a $10,000 farm bike was stolen.

Whangarei police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the bike and accompanying spray tank, was taken from a shed on a farm in Kokopu Rd, Whangarei, between 6pm on Sunday and 4.30am yesterday, when the theft was discovered.

Ms Kennett said the thieves would likely have needed a vehicle to get away with the farm bike, and she appealed for anybody who saw any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area to contact police.

She said it is also a timely reminder for rural folk to ensure their sheds, garages and outbuildings were locked and property inside them was secured to make it harder for thieves.

"Make it really, really difficult for these offenders to get your property. Also you can use the SNAP to help identify your goods and then make it easier for police to return them if they are stolen," Ms Kennett said.

SNAP (Serial Number Action Partnership) is an initiative of police, aimed at preventing burglary and property offending, and make it harder for criminals to sell stolen goods in New Zealand. The initiative helps to protect property in a number of ways. The SNAP website (www.snap.org.nz) allows people to enter and maintain details of all of their important possessions or assets. They can then access this asset list from anywhere, anytime.

She said rural people generally knew if a new or unusual vehicle was in their area and these should be reported to police on 09 4304500 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.