Police are requesting the public's help to identify a vehicle and its occupants alleged to have been involved in the theft of builder's tools in Papamoa East on Monday.

Papamoa Police Sergeant Phil Gillbanks says a vehicle captured on CCTV footage is believed to be towing a trailer containing builders tools stolen from Golden Sands in Papamoa East on Monday.

CCTV footage of a vehicle police suspect was used to carry tools stolen from Papamoa. Images: NZ Police.

The vehicle of interest and the trailer have travelled up Parton Road and turned right onto Tara Road before heading toward State Highway 2, Phil says.

'It has passed through the Baypark Roundabout and the Welcome Bay State Highway 29 Roundabout at just before midnight. The vehicle was heading in the direction of Oropi but may have continued on State Highway 29 over the Kaimai ranges into the Waikato region.”

Police would particularly like to talk with the occupants of a white utility that the vehicles passed near the Gull Service Station on Parton Road, Papamoa at 11.35pm.

'We would also like to talk to the occupants of a silver vehicle that was followed by the suspect vehicle through the Welcome Bay roundabout,” Phil says.

'I have personally done a lot of work with the local community in crime prevention education, I have issued advice through the media, social media, and building companies. I have had Police staff visit numerous tradespersons at their work sites educating them in ways to prevent themselves from becoming the victims of theft.”

Phil says he has spoken to tradespeople about how to mark their tools or record serial numbers to assist police in identifying any property should it be stolen.

'Sadly a lot of this hard work has gone unheard and still tradespersons vehicles are left unlocked or in plain view without any form of anti-theft system. Trailers too are either left unlocked in plain view, or with just a ball lock and no wheel lock allowing the trailer to be quietly rolled away.”

On a daily basis throughout New Zealand Police are regularly searching properties and addresses for stolen property, however without any way to positively identify the individual item police are looking for they are often unable to recover items or proceed with a prosecution, Phil says.

'We are often hamstrung by the complacency of New Zealanders who continue to make it easy for thieves to ply their trade. We need people to record the serial numbers of their property and to mark their other equipment for easy identification.”

Phil says www.snap.org.nz is a fantastically easy way to record serial numbers and gives individuals the opportunity to put photographs of their items and personalised markings on the site as well.

He says police are concerned at the number of trailers and tradespersons tools that are stolen annually across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.

'We know how much this affects the victims and their ability to work. These items are rarely recovered and someone must have information as to where they are going and what is happening to them.”

Any information in relation to this particular incident or any other incident can be given anonymously at your local police station or through CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111.

'As a police officer, I need the communities help to effectively do my job, it starts with each individual person doing there bit to best ensure that they are not an easy target for offenders and to immediately report anything to us that seems suspicious.

'If any person would like any Crime Prevention advice they can call or visit their local police station and we will be happy to talk with them.”