Thieves use grinders to break into refrigerated shipping containers

Police warn it takes a thief with a grinder about 10 seconds to cut through a padlock. Photo / File.

Shipping containers equipped with refrigeration apparatus have become a target for grinder-wielding thieves in the Onekawa industrial area in recent weeks.

The freezing units and containers contain alloy and copper tubing and in the wake of two such incidents where copper was targeted, as well as other general container break-ins, police have urged those with containers on their sites to either invest in specialist "lock boxes" or position the containers so the access doors cannot be opened.

Napier police constable Mike Burne said if people had the means to carry out the shift they should consider it as it was totally effective in keeping long-stored items safe.

"Position the container so the doors are hard against a wall or end to end with another container," he said.

"You will need a forklift and it would be the better option if you have property stored long-term or that you do not need everyday access to."

The other security option for containers which were regularly used were the specialised lock boxes which made forcing entry difficult and time-consuming.

Mr Burne said it would only take a thief using a grinder (as in the two latest burglaries) about 10 seconds to get through a standard padlock.

He believed the noise of a grinder disc "whining away" for a long period of time as opposed to just 10 seconds would likely alert someone in the area that something was going on - or even cause the thief to give up.

"I have not yet seen a container lock box with the correct lock fitted to it defeated by a thief," Mr Burne said.

He advised container owners to check the systems out through consulting with container buying and selling businesses.

Shipping containers on Hawke's Bay business sites have been a target recently for thieves. Photo/ File

"The whole set-up is not that expensive and you have to consider what you have stored in your container."

In another reported incident recently, a large car transporter trailer was stolen from a yard in Cadbury St.

Thieves broke into the yard to take the 15m by 6m trailer which has the name 'Unique Trailers' on the mudflaps.

It also has an electric winch fitted along with a battery box and solar panel for powering a large LED light system.

Anyone knowing anything about the whereabouts of the trailer is asked to call police on 831 0700.