Contractor counts cost after theft

GONE: A digger identical to the one that was stolen from G&C Diggers in Clareville.PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

A Clareville excavation company is hurting after a truck and digger were stolen from its yard on Monday night.

An 8-tonne truck loaded with a 5.7 tonne digger were stolen from G & C Diggers on State Highway 2 at about 10 pm.

Owner Gavin Dennes said the white Mitsubishi Fighter truck and the almost-new yellow Yanmar digger represented a significant portion of his fleet, and their loss might jeopardise significant contracts.

"Trying to replace it [truck] for the value we insured it for will be difficult.

"We need three diggers for the work for the council."

The combined value of the truck and digger was about $130,000, he said.

He noticed the truck and digger were missing when he arrived at work about 3am but did not report it to police until 7am as he thought one of the drivers might have taken it out, he said.

"I thought it could be on a call. I left it a bit long."

A similar truck had been seen heading north near Loop Line at about 10.30 pm, he said.

Mr Dennes said he had no idea who might have stolen the truck and feared it would be difficult to track them down.

"If I knew I'd be chasing them myself."

"They get them in the shed and paint them up and she's gone ... they usually strip them because they can't re-reg them."

He was unsure how the truck had been stolen as the keys were normally well-hidden.

"I'll probably have to rejig the security, put a security camera in."

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said she heard the truck pull out in an inexpert fashion.

"I just heard a truck pull out and it was obviously a driver that was unfamiliar with the truck - even a driver that gets into a truck that's not his own has trouble. He couldn't get his revs up."

Senior Sergeant Jymahl Glassey said police were investigating.

Anyone with information should contact the Masterton police on (06) 370 0378 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.