Police are stepping up patrols in parts of Dunedin following a crime-riddled holiday period.
Acting Otago Coastal area commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd said Port Chalmers and recreational car parks across the city had become the focus of police efforts to stem a flow of crime in recent weeks.
"There's been a real spike in offending in the Port Chalmers area in terms of burglaries and thefts from cars going on out there,'' he said.
"We're really after any information from the public and reporting of any suspicious activity occurring late at night and early in the morning.‘We've increased patrols in that area over that time we think they're happening.''
Insp Lloyd said police believed "a small number of people were responsible for a large amount of what's going on''.
He would not be drawn on how many extra officers would be stationed in Port Chalmers but said residents should not be alarmed if they saw what appeared to be city-based patrols arriving at unusual times.
"It's just part of the prevention activity they're involved in.''
Recreational car parks had been a target for thefts from cars recently and that was also believed to be the work of a small group of people, Insp Lloyd said.
"Again, there's a small amount of people creating a large amount of victims.
"We're trying to anticipate what's going to happen. We've got some pretty good lines of inquiry in relation to some [offending].''
There had also been a spike in crime in the city's student area over recent weeks but that had dropped off in the past week, he said.
"We have stepped up patrols in response to what we saw as a blip starting to occur there.''
Insp Lloyd reiterated police were focused on preventing crime rather than dealing with it afterwards.
Homes, cars and and an early childhood centre have been targeted in several burglaries across Dunedin.
Senior Sergeant Liz Waru, of Dunedin, said some people had returned from holiday to find items were missing but other thefts and break-ins had occurred recently.
More than $2000 worth of items were taken from a Caldwell St, Brockville, address between Christmas Eve and Saturday.
Among them were two 32-inch televisions, an Xbox, a DeLonghi coffee maker, two notebook computers, a digital camera and frozen meat.
Three chainsaws, each costing $2500, were taken from a secured tool shed at a Victoria Rd address between Saturday and Monday mornings.
The door of the shed had been forced open and a suspect known to the victim was being sought, Snr Sgt Waru said.
In Roseneath, a padlocked Evinrude outboard motor was taken from a boat at a Shandon St property between December 21 and Sunday.
A laptop and various food items, including chocolate, milk and meat products, were taken from a commercial property in Main South Rd, Kaikorai Valley, between Sunday morning and midday Monday.
Items worth nearly $1000 were taken from a car park near Smaills Beach, in Tomahawk Rd, about 2.30pm Monday.
They included an iPhone, a handbag, a phone case and several lipsticks. A wallet with a driver's licence and bank cards was also taken.
A car window was smashed and a knife and sheath taken from it in Rotoiti St, Maia, between Friday and Monday, Snr Sgt Waru said.
Southern Dunedin was also a target.
A wing mirror was ripped off a car for sale in Hillside Rd between Saturday night and Sunday night; a Prince Albert Rd property was broken into and a Red Door perfume taken between January 3 and Monday; and the St Clair Corner Early Learning Centre, on the corner of Macandrew and Forbury roads, was entered between Friday and Sunday afternoons.
It was unclear if anything had been taken.
Residents of a Kenmure Rd property in Kaikorai Valley returned to find wire sticking out of a keyhole on Sunday in what police said was an attempted break-in.
Protecting your home
BEFORE YOU GO OUT
• Check doors, garages locked. Securely shut windows.
• Put tools, ladders away.
• Leave spare keys with neighbour.
• Don't leave notes on doors.
BEFORE YOU GO AWAY
• Tell neighbours travel plans and contact phone number.
• Redirect mail, cancel newspaper.
• Put a lamp on timer.
• Keep curtains open, blinds up.
• Turn telephone ringer sound down.
• Lock doors, close windows.
AT HOME
• Identify and mark valuable items for insurance purposes.
Select a reliable alarm.
