Frustration continues for police as thieves target vehicles at tourism hot spots.
Police believe the thefts are connected - and relate to the same offenders.
Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, said a bag containing a credit card and jewellery - including $650 diamond earrings, an iPad mini, Nikon camera and more than a thousand dollars in cash ($NZ400 and $US500) was stolen from a locked car at Tunnel Beach yesterday between 6pm and 6.45pm.
"It's frustrating,'' he said.
On Wednesday, a car belonging to Australian tourists parked in Cannington Rd, Maori Hill, was broken into between 3am and 3.15am.
A backpack containing $A3000 ($NZ3180) in cash and passports was stolen.
The vehicle was among more than 20 broken into in the past week.
Many were parked in recreational car parks including Bethunes Gully, Blackhead, Nichols Creek, Sandymount, Sullivan's Dam and Tunnel Beach.
A police patrol visited Tunnel Beach at 4pm on Thursday and discovered an unlocked car with a wallet in "plain view'' on the front centre console.
The wallet contained $300 cash.
The officers put the wallet out of sight, left a note warning the car owner and locked the car.
Sgt Aitken urged tourists parking in recreational areas to photograph any other cars in the vicinity to help police in case a car was broken into.
● About $2500 of horse-riding gear was taken from a shed in Flower St, Fairfield, between mid-October and January 1.
The gear included two saddles, bridles, helmets, rugs and boots.
Deterring thieves
• Always lock your car securely.
• Close all windows.
• Always lock your boot.
• Take valuables with you or keep them out of sight.
Source: Police
