Two cars parked at Oamaru's unofficial car sales yard at Awamoa Park were targeted by thieves on Tuesday night.
Police received a report at 11.58pm that a Ford Falcon, for sale at Awamoa Park, had a quarterlight window smashed and its ignition tampered with.
The vehicle had no battery in it, so offenders were unable to start it, a police spokeswoman said.
Police inquiries subsequently found that a silver Toyota Corolla had been stolen from the Awamoa yard on Tuesday night, which was later found crashed in Woolshed Rd.
The driver had fled from the scene of the crash.
It appeared they had lost control on a slight left-hand bend in Woolshed Rd, south of Oamaru.
A quarterlight window of the Corolla had also been smashed.
The vehicles would be tested for fingerprints, a police spokeswoman said.
Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy, of Oamaru, warned people about the danger of leaving their vehicles at Awamoa Park overnight.
For decades, the car park next to State Highway 1 has been used by people to sell cars and other vehicles, including boats and caravans.
Many vehicles are removed by owners at night, and Snr Sgt McCoy said that was the best safety measure.
''Take them away over night and put them back the next day.''
Anyone who saw anything suspicious at Awamoa Park or the 1989 Toyota Corolla GL sports car, registration OM4472, being driven in the Oamaru area on Tuesday night is asked to contact the police on (03) 433-1400.
