Think there's something a bit funny about that car you are buying?
A new list of vehicles stolen in New Zealand in the past six months should provide some peace of mind.
As of yesterday, a list of all cars reported stolen to police will be printed online and updated three times a day.
The list can be found at www.police.govt.nz/stolen/vehicles.
Deputy police commissioner Mike Bush said the new initiative was free, up to date and provided a simple, on-the-spot way of checking on a vehicle.
The database, launched in Wellington yesterday, would be a resource for security guards, insurance companies, moteliers, scrap metal dealers and community policing patrols.
"It also has obvious benefits for people buying second-hand vehicles, garages that service vehicles and service stations where petrol thefts can regularly be associated with stolen vehicles."
Users can search via registration plate number, VIN, engine or chassis number. A hit will return the make, vehicle type and colour, and when the vehicle was reported stolen.
Users can also generate a list of all outstanding vehicles that have been stolen during the past six months for all of New Zealand or in a single police district or combination of districts.
"Potentially, it gives police many more pairs of eyes out there. People can do their own checking and then report it to police," Mr Bush said.
It was also an extra deterrent for offenders because now anyone with a smartphone could run the vehicle through the database on the spot.
"The risk of being caught with a stolen vehicle has just risen considerably," he said.
