The chase for a stolen car in Armidale quickly turned into a recovery operation after police became bogged.
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Armidale officers were searching for a stolen white Hilux dual cab utility when they had information to suggest the car could have been hidden in a reserve off Galloway St, in South Armidale.
When police entered the rugged bushland in the hunt for the ute, they quickly had to call for help after they got bogged on Tuesday morning.
The wheels of both the paddywagon and the utility were partly submerged after part of the reserve turned swamp-like, sinking the vehicles.
Armidale Dumaresq Council were called in to assist in the recovery operation but found a bulldozer didn’t fare well in the muddy conditions.
An excavator was called in for back-up and managed to tow both vehicles out of the reserve without any damage.
New England Acting Inspector John Walkowiak told Fairfax Media the hunt was sparked after a trayback utility was reported stolen from a Webb St home sometime before Monday morning.
“The officers were patrolling the area to locate the possible stolen vehicle,” he said.
“They had information to suggest it could have been in the reserve and they went in to search for it.”
The reserve has been used in the past by offenders to dump or hide stolen goods including cars, bikes and other items.
But despite the drama, the operation paid off with the stolen ute located in the reserve on Tuesday afternoon by investigators.
“Officers located the stolen vehicle a short time later and it has been seized for investigations,” Acting Inspector Walkowiak said.
“We would warn other drivers not to go off road given the particularly muddy and wet conditions after recent rain.
“There is more rain forecast this week and the conditions could get worse.”