PLEASE NOTE – Vision and images can be found on the Hightail link – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/fqSUNR3qvy
Police have released CCTV as they continue to investigate the theft of heavy machinery in the State’s Riverina.
About 3.15am on (Saturday 9 March 2024), officers were called to a business on Catherine Crescent, Lavington, about 6km south-east of Albury, following reports an excavator had been stolen.
Officers attached to Murray River Police District attended and commenced an investigation, seizing CCTV.
The equipment stolen was a 1.7 tonne orange-and-black Kubota excavator and trailer worth $100,000.
As inquiries continue, police have now released CCTV footage of a vehicle they are seeking to identify.
Police want to speak to the occupants of the vehicle – or anyone who may have seen a Holden Colorado utility, grey/blue in colour, with the ute’s cab described as being a slightly different colour to the tray – as police believe they can assist with this investigation.
Anyone with information – or relevant dashcam vision – is urged to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Murray Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Juay Brown said the theft showed just how easily business owners can be the victims of opportunistic thieves.
“It’s frustrating that someone has stolen valuable equipment vital to the operation of the business, and reinforces our advice to everyone to do everything they can to avoid becoming the target of opportunistic thieves,” Det Ch Insp Brown said.
“We always advise everyone in the community – residential and business – to ensure homes and businesses are locked and secured. if you have a security system make sure it’s turned on, keep an up-to-date property inventory including serial numbers or unique characteristics of the property, and ensure security lights cover main areas around premises, and that fences are sturdy and gates have keylocks,” he said.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
