Dunedin police are investigating a recent series of burglaries in the city, including several reports of sheds being entered.
A would-be intruder tried to open a locked external sliding door at a house in Derwent St, Helensburgh, at 2am on Sunday but apparently ran off when an audible alarm was activated.
''That's of concern. Someone has tried to get into a house where people were sleeping,'' Sergeant Steve Aitken said.
A stereo and CDs were reported stolen from a Greenhill Ave, Wakari, property at the weekend.
Two jackets, valued at $250 and $100, were taken from a Great King St North address last week.
A V8 car engine valued at $1000 was reported stolen recently from a Saunders St, Brockville garage.
And a 2008 model Lifan brand dirt bike valued at $1500 was stolen from a Lock St property.
Police were also looking into several recent instances, including at the Mornington-Roslyn Lawn Tennis Club, where intruders had entered buildings, and looked around,
apparently without taking anything. Sgt Aitken urged members of the public to report any suspicious behaviour near properties, including sheds, to the police.
He urged householders to report any break-in attempts to the police as soon as possible, to give them a better chance of catching offenders.
