Firewood has been in hot demand in Queenstown this winter - so much so there have been several reports of theft.
The City Impact Church was one of the victims, Queenstown police reported yesterday.
Late last month, the church was targeted for the first time when members discovered five to six cubic metres of wood had been taken.
Lay Pastor Paul Tankard said the old man pine, worth $80 a metre, had been taken from a spot close to the church on Hansen Rd in Frankton.
"We wouldn't begrudge anyone a load of wood if they were desperate - had someone had a real need, they could have approached us."
However, after a second theft, Mr Tankard suspected the wood was being taken to on-sell.
"We wonder if it is a bit of a scheme. It is more than someone warming a cold flat."
Mr Tankard said the theft had been disheartening as the wood had been donated and volunteers had given their time and labour to chop it and fill the sheds of needy people.
"The wood is used for people in the community who are really strapped for home heating, [such as] solo mothers, the elderly. It's a practical way to keep winter heating bills down for people really."
The church reported both thefts to police and has taken action to deter the culprit by attaching outside security lighting and asking neighbours to be vigilant.
Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said between 40 to 50 rings of firewood were taken during daylight hours last Thursday from a fenced-off area on Wynyard Cres, Fernhill.
Sergeant Kate Pirovano said more than $1000 worth of firewood - an entire winter's supply for many - was taken from one Remarkables Cres property.
She said police had been unable to help the victims as there was no way of proving who owned the wood unless "caught red-handed".
She suggested people could use chicken wire to wrap their wood to make it difficult for a potential thief to move it or to take registration numbers of suspicious vehicles parked near woodsheds.
