Stolen road signs find their way home after West Coast police raid
The signs were from Greymouth, Runanga, Timaru, Gladstone, Cameron, Rutherglen, Ōtira and Paringa — and included two street signs and a police sign.
Some belonged to local councils, while others were owned by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
Police located the haul while executing a search warrant at an address in Dobson, east of Greymouth, in March last year.
Grey District Council was notified on June 11.
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'The signs have been returned to their relevant owners,' a police spokesperson said this week.
Grey District Council group manager of operations Kurtis Perrin-Smith said the cost of stolen signage quickly added up with a replacement cost of around $400 each.
"It is an unnecessary cost to the ratepayer."'
A local sign got a local ride home, thanks to Timaru-founded transport company Hilton Haulage. (Source: Grey District Council)
One sign was returned to the neighbouring Westland District Council, and another from Timaru made its way back home across the Southern Alps with the help of a local transport company.
"Thanks to the team at Hilton Haulage for picking up the sign when they were doing another job in the area,' a Timaru District Council spokesperson said.
A 22-year-old man was charged with receiving property over $1000 and receiving property under $500.
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