Three purebred, show quality, long-haired ginger guinea pigs, Nacho, Peanut and Sapphire, have been stolen from a Dunedin address.
Owner of the rodents, Amanda Pfyl, said they were worth about $45 each and were snatched from their hutch soon after someone had visited and wanted to buy them.
"It's devastating, really. They are show quality girls and they are quite hard to come by, especially in Dunedin,'' she said.
The "girls'' were a bought for her 1-year-old daughter with money from a relative.
An auction website post Ms Pfyl created to sell other guinea pigs the day before had attracted interest, but Nacho, Peanut and Sapphire were not for sale, she said.
A woman looked at the trio and after being told she could not buy them, left without buying anything.
The next day, Ms Pfyl discovered the Peruvian pets were gone.
Senior Sergeant Shona Low, of Dunedin, said police were investigating and looking for help in locating the animals.
Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
