Stolen radar part discovered in scrapheap

A $100,000 computer module stolen from the front door of the Airways Corporation in Christchurch has been rescued from a scrapheap.

A courier delivered the A4-sized module, used in radar systems for aircraft guidance, about 8.30am on January 6.

Police believe it was stolen shortly afterwards. The empty courier box was found about 4km away.

A man who found the module in a heap of rubbish at a derelict house in Christchurch on Thursday night, took it home intending to sell it to a scrap-metal dealer, said Sergeant Andy McEntee, of New Brighton police.

After discovering from media reports that it had been stolen, the man rang the airport police and handed it in to Christchurch central police station.

The man is not involved in the theft, police said.

Mr McEntee said the module, which was not damaged, was being inspected by police fingerprint experts.

- NZPA