TER investigators flew out to the west of Ireland last week in search of a 20-tonne Caterpillar excavator which had been stolen from the West Midlands in 2005.
The investigation had been launched following an enquiry about a part for the machine with a dealer who then checked with TER. It transpired that the excavator, a 2004 320CL model, was one of five items which were reported as stolen to the West Mercia Police and which were subsequently the subject of a large insurance claim valued at approximately £260,000.
A number of individuals in the north west of England were later convicted for conspiracy to steal and distribute the equipment to Northern Ireland following a combined Police operation.
After a long day of enquiries in the remote towns and villages of County Mayo, the 320CL was eventually located by the TER investigators on a development site near the town of Westport. Local Garda officers were then deployed to assist with the recovery of the machine late in the evening.
TER are now making arrangements to repatriate the excavator back to the UK on behalf of Allianz Insurance in order that it can be assessed by a TER examiner.
For more information on this story, please contact Gareth Barkwill on +44 (0) 1225 464599 or [email protected]
