Thieves are targeting Dunedin construction sites, police say, and builders need to be wary of leaving valuable items in half-built homes.
Since September, at least half a dozen building sites throughout the city have been burgled.
On Tuesday, a plasma flat-screen television and range hood still in packaging were stolen from a residential building site in Helensburgh Rd.
A large quantity of lead was also illegally taken from a construction site on the corner of Portobello Rd and Doon St this week.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said there were many coincidences in the various reports and police believed a trend could be developing.
People living near construction sites should report suspicious behaviour, police said, and builders and construction workers should, where possible, not leave items at unsecured sites.
About eight years ago, $500,000 worth of property was stolen from Dunedin construction sites over about eight months, he said.
"We just want to put it out there that this is happening and urge people to keep an eye out for it. It serves as a general warning to builders and suppliers to be wary, even if a place is in a lockable state it could be targeted."
Police would be working with those in the construction industry to prevent further occurrences of theft.
