But Acting Senior Sergeant Damion Rangitutia has warned the joke is over, and police and residents were keeping an eye on the area in a bid to catch the culprit(s).
Acting Snr Sgt Rangitutia said several residents had complained their cars had been damaged - most had their windows smashed and one had its ignition tampered with.
And yesterday, Heriot Row residents woke to find a red Honda City Turbo had been moved out of its car park and on to the road.
A man who works in the area, Ken Buchanan, said he believed the damage was being caused by students.
''It's nothing more than a student prank.
''My plumber was here the other day and someone threw a rock through the back window of his van.
''They don't take anything - they are just out to create as much damage as possible.''
Mr Buchanan said the latest prank - moving the parked car on to the street - had created a potential death trap.
The vehicle had been left on the brow of a hill, and vehicles had to swerve into the path of oncoming traffic to go around it, without knowing what was coming over the hill from the opposite direction, he said.
''It's just plain dangerous.
''I feel sorry for the owner of the car because it was unwarranted and unregistered, and now he'll get a huge fine.''
The car was later removed by the Dunedin City Council.
Acting Snr Sergeant Rangitutia asked residents to contact Dunedin police if they noticed any suspicious activity in the City Rise area.
