A couple are being sought by Dunedin police following thefts from vehicles.
The man and woman, both described as being Maori or Polynesian, ran from the Edgar Centre car park when they were discovered breaking into a car about 7pm on Monday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Tony Ritchie said the owner of the vehicle found the man in the car and the woman ''standing guard'' beside it.
''It was just lucky the owner of the car came out of the Edgar Centre at that time. The owner approached the couple and they ran off down Portsmouth Dr,'' Acting Snr Sgt Ritchie said.
It appeared the offenders used something to force open the door lock. Nothing was stolen from the car. Acting Snr Sgt Ritchie said the timing of the offence matched other reports of theft from vehicles in central Dunedin recently.
Last week, there was a spate of such incidents throughout the city centre, he said.
''About that time of the night, we've had vehicles broken into and valuable commodities stolen, including wallets, cellphones, cameras, laptops and glasses.''
Dunedin police wanted any information about the thefts, as well as the man and woman who ran from the Edgar Centre.
The man was described as being in his late 20s, about 1.8m tall, with medium-length curly black hair and a mole on his left cheek.
The woman was wearing a beanie and a burgundy puffer jacket.
