Stolen radar detectors sold online

Two Christchurch men face theft charges after police targeted car radar detectors being sold on the Trade Me website.

Police seized 15 radar detectors, a global positioning system (GPS) unit, a car alarm and a computer in a recent raid after noticing a disproportionate number of the detectors being sold from Christchurch on the online auction site.

Sergeant Lachy Garrick, of Christchurch police, said three detectors had been found during the raid in courier packs ready to be shipped to buyers.

Two men, aged 24 and 26, had been charged with theft. One appeared in Christchurch District Court yesterday and the other was to appear on August 2.

"The value of radar detectors stolen is estimated to be in excess of $50,000," Mr Garrick said. "Considering they cost from $500 to $1200 retail, they were generally being on-sold for less than half price."

The detectors were believed to have been stolen in car break-ins.

Mr Garrick said the detectors and GPS units were the new "hot" items being targeted by car thieves. They were easy to see on car dashboards and there was a ready market for them.

Senior Sergeant Andrea Jopling said police would trawl the Trade Me website again to look for stolen items being offered for sale.

Trade Me staff had co-operated with police and were "fantastic" to deal with, she said.

Website buyers were warned to be wary and urged to question the serial numbers and origins of items being sold.

Many of the items had not been reported stolen and police had been unable to return them to their owners.

Ms Jopling said the recent operation had resulted in a "good catch".

"It would have been better if more people reported that they had items stolen and took note of serial numbers and brands," she said.

- NZPA