Dale Jordan said thieves stole four 20-litre containers of the acid along with four chainsaws, two weed eaters, a generator and hand tools from his Wingatui Rd business on Monday night.
The acid was used to grow hydroponic lettuces at his business, but he believed the thieves might be intending to use it for drug production.
It could be used for hydroponic cannabis growth, but it could also be used in the production of methamphetamine, he said.
The stolen acid had a concentration of 68%, which was "very, very strong".
"It burns your skin as soon as you touch it," he said.
"It doesn’t react with stainless steel, but anything else it does.
"Even when it lands on the concrete on the floor, it reacts with that."
He used extensive protective equipment and diluted the substance when using it at his business.
Dunedin police warned anyone who found the containers or handled them to be "extremely careful".
"Police are concerned that if someone has stolen these containers and they don’t know what they are dealing with, then they are at serious risk of harming themselves," a statement from police said.
"The stolen nitric acid is usually used in hydroponics and the containers would be clearly labelled as acid and have safety warnings on them.
"Police believe more than one offender was involved in the incident due to the amount of property stolen.
"The intruders cut a padlock on a gate to gain access to the property."
Mr Jordan said the theft had shaken him and his wife, Hannah.
"It’s really knocked us back," he said.
"Hannah and I have worked tirelessly for five years and are honest as they come.
"We always lock our gate. It’s knocked us for a six.‘‘I don’t know why we were targeted."
He believed a pair of thieves would have taken between 20 and 25 minutes to steal all that was taken, and it was done only 50m from his home and had not woken anyone inside or even his dog.
"They have been very quiet," he said.
"I almost feel they knew what to target."
The business was comprehensively insured, but the theft was an inconvenience, he said.
Police urged anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area on Monday night or had information about the theft to come forward and said anyone coming in contact with the acid should contact the National Poisons Centre.
● Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111, National Poisons Centre 0800 764-766.
