Intelligence analyst Constable Ian Paulin, of Dunedin, said 10 vehicles were stolen between last Tuesday and yesterday.
All thefts followed a pattern as "one has been taken and then dumped" before another vehicle in the area was stolen and dumped in another part of town.
Up to four juveniles were believed to be involved in the crime spree and police had a "pretty good idea" of the identity of two of them, Const Paulin said.
They were targeting specific cars - Ford Lasers and Mazdas - and were forcing the locks to gain entry.
"It's pretty hard to guard against that," he said.
He believed the thieves had some knowledge of the vehicles, which were generally early models.
One car was found extensively damaged on North Rd, Northeast Valley, at 2.30am yesterday.
A bumper, with licence plate attached, was found nearby.
The vehicle from which the bumper came was recovered in Cannington Rd, Maori Hill, at 9.25am yesterday.
Another vehicle was taken from Cannington Rd and was found in Mulford Park, Concord, at 8.15am.
Vehicles had also been stolen from Mosgiel and Brockville during the past week - thefts believed to be work of the same young offenders, Const Paulin said.
The number of thefts had been comparatively low for the past two months until this "massive explosion" occurred.
"[We will] get these guys locked up and hopefully it will die right down," Const Paulin said.
