There has been a breakthrough in the case of the missing West Coast bus shelter.

It turns out the shelter wasn't stolen but sold.

The Granity bus shelter was thought to be the hottest item on the New Zealand black market when it was reported as stolen last week.

A police investigation has revealed Solid Energy had built the shelter for its workers when they leased the land.

Sergeant Malcolm Lamont says when the energy company ended the lease, they didn't take the shelter with them so the land owner took possession of it.

He then on-sold it, but to whom is unclear.

Police say the owner had been "more than forthcoming and gave police a full run down of what had happened".

Newshub.