A Dannevirke man is in custody following the theft of a $30,000 Rough Terrain Vehicle from a business earlier this week – in an arrest ignited by a request for a new key.
Police said the burglary occurred shortly after midnight on April 20.
Three offenders spent "about 90 minutes wandering around" a business, police said, before they cut afence and towed an RTV out of the yard using a quad bike.
Constable Micaela Hodgson said the case was solved through a combination of CCTV and local help after the manager of a local store was approached by a person the next day.
Hodgson said the persoer was trying to purchase a key for the RTV's ignition.
When the manager said they'd need to see ID, the customer left but returned the next day and "surprisingly handed over his ID to complete the purchase".
After the store manager put the two events together and contacted police, Hodgson said officers executed a search warrant on Dannevirke's Weber Rd and consequently found the RTV.
“The business is stoked to have the RTV returned," said Hodgson.
A 37-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident and is due in Dannevirke District Court on Wednesday, charged with burglary by night of property worth more than $5000.
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