Masterton cops raid stolen hoard

FOUND: A large haul of stolen property recovered from a Dixon St house. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wairarapa police have uncovered a huge haul of stolen property during an investigation into a spate of burglaries in central Masterton.

Police searched a Dixon St property on Wednesday and found flat screen TVs, wine, CDs, DVDs, bicycles, punching bags, camping equipment, tools, fishing gear, scooters, clothing and bedding, which they are seeking to return to the legal owners.

As part of a targeted investigation by the police's Tactical Crime Unit, they believe the items are linked to four burglaries from homes, one burglary of a commercial premises and three to thefts from vehicles.

Detective Sergeant Barry Bysouth said it was still early on in the investigation and police were looking for the offenders, who had fled to Auckland.

Mr Bysouth said they were believed to be from Auckland and had moved to Wairarapa.

"This task becomes more complicated for our investigation team when burglary and vehicle offenders move into Masterton from out of the area and we don't know that they are here.

"It is for this reason we not only target recidivist offenders but also target areas where the spikes are occurring."

Mr Bysouth said police also found that if there was a spike and it was not a local recidivist, it could be people who had been released from prison, moved to a new area and were re-offending.

Police were in the process of returning the stolen items to their rightful owners, he said.

"We are confident we have identified most of the people and have linked them to their items."

Mr Bysouth said the unit also targeted Featherston in July, to crack down on an increase in burglary, wilful damage and "general bad behaviour of youths".

"This was extremely successful and has encouraged the unit to be mobile around the Wairarapa area, allowing us to respond, not just for the odd day but over a much longer period where we will have more impact on crime.

"Burglaries and vehicle crime are not only considered serious by police but we know they have wider implications on victims, who have to deal with strangers having been in their homes and the loss of property which may have taken years to attain."