Farm vehicles worth $39k taken

A substantial reward is being offered for information leading to the recovery of three farm vehicles, worth $39,000, stolen from a Masterton business.

Neville McTainsh, manager of Kaxa Motors, said he discovered the break-in and thefts when he arrived at work at 7.45am yesterday.

The thieves had overnight cut their way into an extremely secure yard at the Bannister St business and had made off with the specialist farm vehicles, two UTVs and an ATV long wheel based quad.

Mr McTainsh said it seemed the thefts had been well planned and that either a large truck or a truck-and-trailer unit would have been needed to cart the stolen vehicles away.

He said the vehicles were distinctive and would be easy to identify.

The brazen thieves targeted the premises just a block away from Masterton Police Station.

It appeared they had used a grinding tool or something similar to gain entry to the yard and may have taken advantage of the fact it was Guy Fawkes night to avoid suspicion for noises or bangs that may have been heard by people nearby.

Kaxa's adjacent business building was heavily alarmed and fortified, Mr McTainsh said.

Police were alerted as soon as the break-in was discovered and it is hoped forensic examination could reveal fingerprints or other evidence.

The individual value of the vehicles was $11,000, $13,000 and $13,800 and one of the UTVs was powered by electricity.