Police are warning homeowners in the Mangakahia/Wheki Valley area to lock up their equipment securely and keep an eye out for suspicious activity after a spate of rural burglaries in the area targeting expensive machinery.
Sergeant Paul Nicholas, of Whangarei police, said thieves have been active on rural properties in the Mangakahia/Wheki Valley area, including on State Highway 14 and Mangakahia Rd in recent weeks, targeting equipment like ride-on lawnmowers, chainsaws, quad and motor bikes and trailers.
Three such burglaries over the weekend had left police and the property owners frustrated and Mr Nicholas said rural communities needed to report any suspicious activities to police as soon as possible.
Overnight Saturday/Sunday a property on SH14 at Wheki Valley, 21km south-east of Whangarei, was burgled and a John Deere ride-on lawnmower worth about $9500 and a Stihl chainsaw worth about $450 were stolen.
Over the same period, a property on Mangakahia Rd was burgled and a trailer and chainsaw worth about $600 taken.