Students, landlords and tradesmen are being warned to be vigilant as thieves target flats in North Dunedin during the holiday period.
Police dealt with four burglaries in the past week involving flats and were expecting more reports of missing items when students came back into the city as leases expired.
In one case, parts of a flat on Dundas St were burgled while a woman slept in an adjacent room.
A laptop, Christmas presents and her Mitsubishi Diamante car were stolen.
Harbour Tce resident Keegan Payne (21) said he had been in his flat up till Christmas eve and was not worried about being burgled but was surprised to hear there had been several break-ins in the area.
"I was never worried about burglaries,'' Mr Payne said.
"The girlfriend was though. [But] we're not on the main street. You'd have to go out of your way if someone was to burgle it.''
A computer and golf clubs were the only thing of value in his flat as he was in the process of moving yesterday.
Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, said tradesmen, too, had been targeted as they carried out work on houses in the area.
Several power tools had been reported missing.
"The student area has taken quite a hit,'' Sgt Aitken said.
"It's known as a fairly soft spot at this time of the year because of the likelihood of the stuff being there but no-one being about in the area.
"Come January, we expect a flood of burglary reports.''
The burglaries were opportunistic as to the houses targeted but the area was definitely selected, Sgt Aitken said.
Thieves would look for homes they thought were unoccupied.
Often students would pile belongings in one room to store for the holidays, making an easy target.
A second burglary on Dundas St resulted in the theft of a black bag and on Queen St, a $3800 bass guitar, a 50-inch television and two gaming consoles were taken.
A replica sword and an iPod touch were stolen from a Harbour Tce address.
"Everyone down there ... be vigilant,'' Sgt Aitken said.
"Don't have [belongings] so that [they are] visible through windows.
"If someone looks out of place, question them or give us a call.''
Police worked with the University of Otago Campus Watch to keep the area secure, Sgt Aitken said.
A private security vehicle patrolling the area yesterday was not commissioned by police but might have been contracted to check on homes or businesses in the area, he said.
Click Property Management owner and managing director Andrea Elliott said although they did not manage many properties in North Dunedin, they "scoured'' the area regularly, making sure properties were secure, and they provided security advice to students.
"We don't advocate people having belongings in the flat after the lease has ended [but] we're generally on the lookout.''
Campus Watch would not comment.
