South Simcoe Police say they recovered a stolen boat motor before its owner knew it was missing.

An officer spotted the motor in the back of a pick-up truck that had been stopped for running a stop sign. Thought nothing of it at the time.

Further investigation the next day determined it had been stolen.

Officers tracked down the pick-up driver, confiscated the motor and returned to its rightful owner.

A 29-year-old Bradford man has been charged with theft and possession of stolen property, in addition to running the stop sign.