Police are warning tourists parking at Sandfly Bay on Otago Peninsula to be alert after several burglaries in the area.
Inspector Amelia Steel said five car burglaries had been reported in the past few days, with wallets and phones among the items stolen.
''People need to be on the lookout and make sure they don't leave anything valuable in their cars.''
In November last year, the Otago Daily Times reported about a dozen tourist vehicles had been broken into in the area.
Senior Constable Lox Kellas, of Portobello, who is also an Otago Peninsula Community Board member, said yesterday the issue had been investigated and there was ''not a lot more'' the community could do to protect the area against thieves.
''It's one of the most isolated and remote areas on the peninsula and people leave their cars for a long time. The thieves know this.
''All we can really do is warn people to take their valuables out of their cars. There are signs at the car park warning people to lock their cars.''
Const Kellas said he would talk to farmers in the area to try to get leads on the latest burglaries.
