Stolen digger among $100k police haul

A $30,000 digger was amongst $100,000 of stolen property recovered at a Rodney address.

A stolen digger valued at $30,000 is amongst a haul of property recovered by police during a raid at a residential Rodney property on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers from the Waitemata Tactical and Organised Crime teams carried out a search warrant at the Riverhead house, following information that there was stolen property on the premises.

A number of items that have been confirmed as stolen in thefts or burglaries were found, including the following;
-A trailer valued at $15,000
-A generator valued at $9,000
-Welders valued at $6,000
-A motorbike
-Approximately 20 power tools with an estimated value of $15,000

The total estimated value of the recovered property is around $100,000.

Police believe the stolen items have come from across the wider Auckland region.
Enquiries to reunite the stolen property with it's owners are ongoing and include matching the serial numbers with those recorded as stolen in the Police database.

Officers also seized a modified pistol-grip pump-action shot gun and ammunition.

Police raided the same property several weeks ago and seized a quantity of methamphetamine, as well as clan lab equipment and materials, two stun guns, around $4500 cash, a shotgun and a pistol.

Constable Aaron Straka, Waitemata Police says the black market trade in stolen property is appalling.

"A lot of the stolen property we found were tools, stolen from people who are just trying to make an honest living.

"We hope this sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can offend like this and get away with it that they can't" says Constable Straka.

"Anyone who buys stolen property only feeds the vicious cycle of criminals stealing from innocent people and selling to others in the criminal world, often in exchange for illegal drugs.

"The reality is that if no-one bought stolen property in the first place there would be far less burglary and robbery and far fewer victims."

A 50-year-old man has been charged with multiple counts of receiving stolen property, as well as possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He will appear in the Waitakere District Court on Tuesday 26 August.

A 52-year-old man has also been charged with firearms, drug possession and supply related charges and will reappear in the Waitakere District Court in October.