Trailer theft crime spree

Forty-two stolen from businesses, yards, driveways

FORTY-TWO trailers have been stolen in our region over the last three months, police say.

Fourteen have been stolen from commercial premises between October 1 and January 6, while others have been taken from garages, driveways and yards.

Police are urging owners to engrave their trailers to help identify them if they are stolen.

“Consider marking your trailer with an engraver in an inconspicuous spot,” police said in a statement.

“It is likely the offenders who steal the trailers remove any identifying features so they cannot be identified then are either sold as scrap metal or repainted etc and sold.”

Police said if possible trailers should not be stored in front yards and behind gates if possible.

“(If trailers have to be kept in front yards) we would recommend considering purchasing a trailer coupling lock or a wheel clamp,” they said.

“Parking under a sensor light or similar will also act as a deterrent as most trailers get to be stolen at night.”

Most trailers stolen are described as “6 x 4” with an addition of a box trailer in a few incidents.

“There does not seem to be any particular day of week they are being targeted. The majority of the trailers were stolen overnight,” police said.

Anyone with information on any trailer theft should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.